Whiteside addresses trade rumors

The latest juicy National Basketball Association gossip is Chris Sheridan of sheridanhoops.com writing “Dwight Howard is extremely unhappy in Houston playing second fiddle to alpha dog James Harden”. The question is whether either scenario is actually feasible for Miami to do particularly when it comes to center Hassan Whiteside and forward Justise Winslow, who have been listed in each report as centerpieces for a possible trade. “People always going to make up lies and rumors“. Dwight isn’t like Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon.

“I haven’t said nothing to nobody about anything”, Howard said. Despite the observations rendered, Howard vehemently downplays the recent trade rumors, calling them all lies.

“That’s never been a focus”.

So they say the best officials don’t get noticed?

The organization rebuffed both rumors, but fans can ask Mario Chalmers how far those denials go. That’s what it is. You know as well as I do that there’s nothing more frustrating in the world than when you’re doing your job but your teammates/colleagues/friends aren’t doing their jobs. Dwight wants to win. I haven’t said nothing to anybody – to any reporter or anybody – about being unhappy.

Howard or Cousins could be headed to Miami. Zeller has hardly played at all this season; while he remains a capable rotation big man, he, like Lee, will be a free agent at the end of the current campaign. “We had opportunities in the fourth quarter where we got it to single digits”. He’s a dominant defensive force, excellent rebounder, possesses great athleticism, and is more than a serviceable offensive option. Not because Howard asked for a trade, but because it’s in the best interests of the Rockets to get value for Howard, rather than having him leave for nothing in the summer.

Another issue is Howard’s limited involvement in the offense.

Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets grabs a rebound from Joffrey Lauvergne #77 of the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on December 14, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. So while Harden keeps his stats high, his team isn’t benefiting from Harden’s selfish play. He’s averaging 19.5 points, five assists, 2.8 rebounds and two steals while shooting 37.5 percent from deep over the last four games. So for me, that’s all I can go on.

If Howard indeed is feeling like he’s not used properly, it would be easy to understand why.

The price is exceedingly low for a guy of Howard’s talent and production.

HOUSTON, you have a problem.

For the short-term, head coach JB Bickerstaff is making it clear that Howard is not unhappy and his relationship with the team is just fine.

The Rockets’ upcoming schedule is going to make it harder for the league’s most disappointing team to find its footing. Now, he’ll be lucky to make it back to the postseason.

Howard spent the early portion of his career playing for the Orlando Magic, where he was the star and the team was completely built around him.