Jeremy Lin: Houston Rockets Must Find a Way to Pair Linsanity with Dwight Howard

The Houston Rockets made waves by essentially stealing Jeremy Lin out from under the New York Knicks, and their next step should be to make sure they land Dwight Howard.

The biggest prize—and headcase—of this offseason is the on-again, off-again Dwight Howard trade. The Rockets have been after Howard for months, and they need to find a way to bring him to Houston and couple him with Lin.

After shocking the basketball world last season, Lin became a coveted point guard, and the Rockets took a risk and signed him to a three-year $25.1 million contract.

If Houston is willing to spend that much on a relatively unproven point guard who is coming back from injury, then they have to be willing to trade whatever it takes to get Howard.

The Rockets may be in the lead for Howard as well.

The Brooklyn Nets are not interested in trading for Howard anymore thanks to his flip-flopping ways, while the Los Angeles Lakers are not close to finalizing a deal for the big man, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard.

With little competition left, the Rockets must strike now.

Houston obviously wants to get the most out of its new point guard, and bringing in Howard is a good way to do so.

Right now, Lin doesn't have many options to go to. Sure, the Rockets drafted three players in the first round, but none were true big men, and the team lacks a solid center that Lin can run the pick-and-roll with.

Bringing in Howard would give the Rockets a great inside-outside combo, which would force opponents to focus on stopping two stars, freeing up role players to excel.

If the Rockets can bring in Howard, they will surely make the playoffs and become one of the better teams in the Western Conference. Pairing Linsanity with Superman would give Houston a great team and could finally push it into the playoff picture.

After finishing ninth in the Western Conference for three straight seasons, it's time the Rockets went all-out to be playing in May.

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