Chandler Parsons Comments on Dwight Howard Potentially Playing for Mavericks
Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets are fighting for their playoff lives, but another player from a recently eliminated postseason team is looking ahead to Howard's potential free agency this summer.
Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons, who played with Howard in Houston during the 2013-14 season, told ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon on Tuesday he believes the controversial big man "can still dominate the game. I think he can still be a great player in this league."
Immediately following up that statement, Parsons said, "I think he's going to leave Houston, so why not come here [to Dallas]?"
Parsons may have unintentionally brought up some tampering issues for the Mavericks. The official NBA rules define tampering as "when a player or team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team in order to negotiate for their services."
That potential issue aside, Howard does have a huge decision awaiting him this summer. USA Today's Sam Amick reported in December that Howard is expected to opt out of his deal with Houston this summer.
The Mavericks have long had interest in Howard.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported the Mavs were one of the teams that inquired about dealing for the former All-Star prior to February's trade deadline, but they found Houston's asking price of "at least one front-line player and a future first-round draft pick" to be too rich.
Howard is 30 years old, and he is still a good center. His scoring average this season (13.7) was the second lowest of his career, but he shot a career-high 62 percent and averaged 11.8 rebounds per game. His size, combined with the league's rising salary cap, will allow him to land a huge deal this offseason.
Things with Houston have not gone as expected this season, with the Rockets going 41-41 after reaching the Western Conference Finals last year. Howard's lack of chemistry with James Harden has been a story virtually all year.
Wherever Howard ends up playing next season, all signs point to it being anywhere besides Houston after this frustrating, lackluster year for him and the team.
