This year's trading season may feature one blockbuster trade involving Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard.
According to league sources spoken to by Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets have reportedly begun to talk to other teams about the possibility of a Howard trade.
At this point, a trade involving Howard may actually make sense for the Rockets, especially considering their outlook not just for this year, but also the seasons ahead.
Despite Howard averaging 14.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, the Rockets have stumbled to a 27–28 start that is currently good for ninth place in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Western Conference.
The Rockets are currently in danger of missing out on the playoffs entirely, which would be a disappointing outcome for a team that made the Western Conference Finals in 2015.
With the Houston Rockets struggling to play well for consistent stretches all season, the team may actually be better off trading Howard now and getting young players or even draft picks in exchange for him, so that they can start putting together the pieces of next year's squad.
For his part, Howard has indicated through his agent Dan Fegan that he has not asked for any trade this season.
In a statement issued to ESPN, Fegan said that "Dwight has not and has never asked the Rockets for a trade."
Still, the Houston Rockets and Dwight Howard may still be headed for a separation even if no trade comes to fruition. Howard is currently expected to exercise an opt-out clause in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent this offseason.
Should Howard exercise the opt-out clause, he could choose to join a new team, leaving the Houston Rockets with nothing but a roster spot they may struggle to fill.
In lieu of the Houston Rockets losing Howard for nothing, the team may just decide that they are better off trading him now and getting what they can as they attempt to put together a better squad for next year.
