NBA trade rumors 2016: Dwight Howard trade discussions up again

Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets is in the middle of hot trade talk rumors once again but this time, it is the team reportedly looking to deal for the soon-to-be free agent.

Howard will officially become a free agent in the summer and although nothing has been mentioned, there is a fair chance that the 6-foot-11-inch center could end up playing for another team.

It seems imminent that Howard would opt out and seek a max contract from another team this offseason, a concern that the Rockets may be considering. And one of the things that the Rockets are avoiding is possibly losing Howard with nothing in return.

Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, clarifies that it wasn't his agent that sought for a trade. Howard says that he wanted to make things work in Houston at least for this season, but the uncertainty on the club's security seems to be of more concern to general manager Daryl Morey.

Right now, there is no clarity on which team has the inside track as the trade rumors are currently vague. The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat could be options, though they remain merely as "talk."

Any team that would take Howard in at this stage could be making a big risk, especially if they fail to make Howard happy.

Of the Celtics and the Heat, the latter could be a better choice where Hassan Whiteside could be the possible bait. One thing that could hinder that is the fact that it cannot be a straight up trade.

This means that multiple players will need to be involved to free up some cap space and such that could make things a bit complicated.

For the Celtics, it somehow holds the same scenario. David Lee is a possibility, but the Rockets are unlikely to go for a straight trade.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been shopping Timofey Mozgov so that could work too. But like the Celtics and the Heat, it will have to be a multi-player trade deal.