Dwight Howard: Report: Charlotte won’t pay for Dwight Howard

Will Whiteside’s inclusion increase the chances of the Rockets to make it to the playoffs?

The Charlotte Hornets are among the teams to have expressed trade interest in Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, according to league sources.

However, Howard insisted he has no plans to leave Houston.

The central piece in a Miami package might be Hassan Whiteside, but that carries complications. Although Whiteside is on an extremely friendly contract ($981,348) this season, he is expected to command a max contract as numerous teams are in need of his shot-blocking abilities.

Actually, Howard has a player option at the end of this current season which makes the argument even more convincing.

If it was simply a matter of rolling the dice on someone, the Wizards would be silly not to seriously investigate a trade for Dwight Howard.

LeBron (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) returned to their respective home state teams and have been premier players in the league for multiple seasons. However, Whiteside is known to have attitude issues and it will not help Houston’s ongoing chemistry problems.

Replacing the center with Howard gives the Heat a proven All-Star who will immediately help the Heat.

Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) argues a call with official Brian Forte (45) while playing against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter at Toyota Center.

Those beliefs nearly came into fruition last season after the Rockets overcame a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference semifinals over the heavily favored Los Angeles Clippers.

Harden, who has the third highest usage rate in the National Basketball Association (33.3%), has prevented Howard from unleashing his talents. For all intents and purposes, Horford is a better player than Howard at this point in their respective careers, and within the confines of Mike Budenholzer’s offensive system, Horford is a (much) better fit. Jason Terry is also on a cheap deal, but he has the right to veto a trade.

Howard, who for his first 8 seasons in Orlando, averages 18 points a game, along with a staggering 13 rebounds a game, has certainly proved himself to be among the top, if not the top, Center in the National Basketball Association. No matter how well an individual plays, and regardless of the impressive statistics he may accumulate, if his heart and mental effort is not there, the team will never succeed. The 26-year old has done uncanny things in his short time with Heat, such as the four triple-doubles (with blocks) he’s accumulated in less than 100 games. Deng, a proven defensive star, is desperate to win a championship and will comply to any role to achieve that goal.

However, Howard has been a difference maker for the Rockets.