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NBA Trade Rumors: Best Landing Spots for Dwight Howard

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) is introduced before playing against the Detroit Pistons at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) is introduced before playing against the Detroit Pistons at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Chris Paul (3) react in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Bucks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Chris Paul (3) react in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Bucks 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are the team with the best and most realistic opportunity to make this happen. There’s a straight-up swap, of sorts, with two of the NBA’s most explosive centers in the NBA who share similar strengths and weaknesses.

In this mutually beneficial trade scenario, the Clippers and Houston Rockets would execute a Dwight Howard for DeAndre Jordan trade.

For Houston, acquiring Jordan would mean landing a player similar to James Harden in age and experience. That duo could grow together, without the pressure of appeasing an eight-time All-Star who commands a high number of touches offensively.

For Los Angeles, Howard would be less of a liability in hack-a-Shaq situations, and would provide something it desperately needs: postseason experience beyond the second round.

Howard has played in 84 postseason games, accumulating averages of 19.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.0 offensive boards, and 2.6 blocks on a slash line of .591/.000/.551. Between the 2014 and 2015 playoffs, he averaged 18.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.9 offensive boards, and 2.4 blocks on a slash line of .566/.000/.472.

More hoops habit: If Houston can't trade Dwight Howard, who might they replace him with in the 2016 NBA Draft?

Howard still has star-caliber basketball in him come the postseason, and that’s something a team that’s never made it past the Conference Semifinals needs.

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