The National Basketball Association (NBA) trade deadline is done and over with, and most big names remained with their respective teams.
There were a number of names that went afloat, with Houston Rockets big man Dwight Howard perhaps one of the big names made available for trade.
Everyone waited until the final minute and when the smoke cleared, Howard remained a Rocket, at least until the end of the current season.
There were multiple teams that tried to strike a deal with the Rockets. That list includes the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and the Milwaukee Bucks.
As reported by ESPN, the Rockets were simply asking too much. That includes a frontline player and a future first round pick. While there were some teams who could have agreed, it was the part about Howard that doused water on any possible deal.
There were concerns tied up with Howard's contract. The 6-foot-11-inch big man made it known that he would opt out in the final year of his deal to seek a higher pay check. With that in mind, teams found it crazy to snag Howard and then possibly lose him in the offseason.
A possible solution could have been to agree to take the player option. Unfortunately, Howard declined to do so.
So with that in mind, Howard will be playing out the rest of the season with the Rockets where he vows to help the team make the playoffs. However, what happens after the 2015–16 NBA season is another story.
He could end up staying in Houston if he gets that big deal or seek other teams who would be willing to give him a max contract. Of the two, it seems the latter is more likely to happen.
Howard hasn't exactly been the same big who that wowed everyone before. He has been struggling a lot and slowed down by various injuries. There will be teams making a pitch for him in the offseason, although he may not be on the top of the list but below other big names like Kevin Durant and Al Horford.
