Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Players Teams Should Absolutely Avoid

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 12
Next
NBA Trade Deadline
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) shoots the basketball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Dwight Howard

Cut to the collective group of Dwight Howard haters perking up, but I can assure you I’m higher than most on D-12’s value. Though his clownish behavior, his lack of polish on his excessive post looks and his losing a step at age 30 are all legitimate concerns, there are few centers of his caliber in the league today.

Howard’s scoring has fallen off to 14.6 points per game this season, but he’s also averaging 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while posting a terrific field goal percentage of 61.2. So why is he so far up the list? Because unfortunately, as is the case in life so often, it’s all about the money.

This summer, Howard will more than likely opt out of the final year and $23.3 million remaining on his contract to become an unrestricted free agent. With the NBA’s salary cap skyrocketing this summer, that move will allow him to command a max salary that would start at $31.2 million per year. That’s a TON of money for any team to fork over for a 30-year-old center whose game and health are in decline.

That sad truth is that D-12’s game relies heavily upon his athleticism. Once that’s gone, his perceived lack of veteran leadership or a refined post game will stand out, and that day is coming far sooner than the course of a five-year max contract.

Any team that trades for Howard would have to give up a collection of assets to attain him, only to overspend on him to keep him in free agency in two month’s time. That’s a proposition all teams but a select few should avoid.

Next: No. 2