Latest Buzz on Dwight Howard's Potential Free Agency Suitors

Dwight Howard is set to hit the open market this July, but already the rumors and speculation as to where the superstar center will land are being generated at a non-stop rate.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what the latest buzz is concerning D12’s signing destination as an unrestricted free agent, don’t worry.

I’ve gone through and picked out some of the hottest reports from the most credible sources, hopefully giving you some insight into Howard’s options this offseason. Let’s take a closer look at these.

Dallas Mavericks Making Room

It’s no secret that the Mavs are serious about improving this summer, and are looking to utilize free agency to upgrade their roster.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, team owner Mark Cuban wants to add a major piece this summer and then again in 2014, when he believes that Dallas will be a contender again:

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We want to be a better team, a top-seed team. If we get the top free agent, that doesn't leave us a whole lot of flexibility to add a lot of players, but we have a good nucleus around them. We know we'll have a good team, but we won't know if we have a great team.

If you look at this like a two-year plan, then we think we're on a track to have a great team by the end of next year.

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One of the ways that Cuban can get a huge head start on implementing this two-year system is to clear up the cap room to acquire Superman. ESPN’s Chad Ford has heard plenty of whispers that this is exactly what the Mavs brass is currently doing.

The analyst notes in his latest mock (behind Insider pay wall) that he’s heard from multiple sources that the No. 13 pick in the 2013 draft, which belongs to the Mavericks, is on the block.

If Dallas can save any sort of money by flipping this late lottery pick in what is one of the shallowest drafts in recent history, it would be a wise decision. Even if it’s a few million dollars at most, expect Cuban to give the go-ahead to pull the trigger.

 

Golden State Warriors Likely Not Interested

Less than a week ago, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News dropped a bomb that noted Howard had added the Warriors to a short list of teams he is intrigued by—a group that also includes the incumbent Los Angeles, aforementioned Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.

Despite the Dubs' previously intense interest in the big man—back when the Orlando Magic were dangling him during the 2011-12 season—the team no longer has the means or desire to sign a player that has declined significantly in the past two seasons.

While general manager Bob Myers didn’t come out and say it, he hinted that the team wasn’t going to desperately chase any free agents last week in an interview with Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News:

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I think a sense of desperation has passed.

I think that–whereas when you’re trying to do anything to get over the hump you do sometimes chase things that may be difficult to acquire. Whereas now, doesn’t mean we’re satisfied, it doesn’t mean we think our work is through, but we can be prudent and patient with opportunities as they come along.

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After seeing how the Lakers struggled with Howard in the lineup and taking their own major step forward in 2012-13, the Warriors would be downright crazy to add a wild card like D12 to the roster.

Despite his upside as an All-NBA center, the 27-year-old hasn’t been healthy in years and has the baggage of a major media circus following him at seemingly all times. An up-and-coming franchise that was competitive in the conference semifinals, the Warriors simply doesn’t need the distraction right now.

 

Houston Rockets Have Financial Benefits

On paper, the Lakers can offer Howard significantly more than any other team in the league. According to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, L.A. can issue a five-year, $118 million deal, while the max any other suitor can extend is $88 million over four years.

However, there are quite a few benefits that D12 would receive by relocating to Texas. Plus, he’ll be able to make up that $30 million dollars if he’s able to maintain his current level of play over the next four seasons.

Because the Lone Star State doesn’t utilize an income tax, Howard would pull in an extra $8 million with the Rockets compared to the Lakers over the first four years.

If he stays in H-Town, the big man could then sign a five-year extension with the club and make up the missing money—from not getting a fifth-year from L.A—and more due to the tax breaks.

Of course, with Howard’s history of injury, it may behoove him to take the guaranteed money in L.A. in order to insure he has some extra money to fall back on in a worst-case scenario.

It’ll be interesting to see what he does and what sort of impact the financials of this all have, but the Rockets definitely deserve serious consideration due to their status as a contender and unique perk of lacking an income tax.