Howard tweets he wants to play for Rockets
Dwight Howard is joining the Houston Rockets, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after one disappointing season to chase championships with fellow All-Star James Harden.
“I’ve decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets. I feel (it’s) the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I’m looking forward to a great season,” Howard wrote on Twitter early yesterday.
Howard, the NBA’s most dominant and indecisive big man who had never been fully comfortable playing under Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, joins a Rockets team that could become an immediate contender in the NBA Western Conference.
The Lakers confirmed earlier that Howard would be leaving. Dallas, Golden State and Atlanta were the other teams interested in Howard.
“Naturally we’re disappointed,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “However, we will now move forward in a different direction with the future of the franchise and, as always, will do our best to build the best team possible.”
The Rockets had brought Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon with them when they made their pitch to Howard last Monday. And now Howard will follow the likes of Olajuwon and Yao Ming in Houston’s middle.
The deal can’t become official until Wednesday, after next season’s salary cap has been set.
The Rockets can give him a four-year deal worth about $88 million, a year less and far below the $118 million the Lakers could have offered.
The Lakers acquired Howard in August 2012 from Orlando as part of a four-way trade. He averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in 76 games.
TRADES
The Mavericks and Warriors, meanwhile, made other big moves as soon as it was clear they were out of the running for Howard.
Dallas came to an agreement with Spanish star Jose Calderon on a four-year, 28 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The Warriors also reached an agreement with swingman Andre Iguodala on a 48 million, four-year deal, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. /ap
