The NBA trade deadline is in just a few hours (February 18th at 3pm) and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that general manager Daryl Morey is reaching out around the league about trading center Dwight Howard. So far talks have fallen apart and the Rockets have rejected a couple offers. Even if it doesn’t happen, that doesn’t change the mounting reports about a rift between Howard and James Harden.
In December, Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops reported, citing sources, that Howard was “extremely unhappy in Houston playing second fiddle to alpha dog James Harden.” Howard denied he was looking to be traded and added that he was working to form a stronger rapport with last year’s MVP runner-up, per USA Today Sports’ Sam Amick.
Well now there’s more evidence about issues between the two star players.
via Fran Blinebury of NBA.com:
Howard and Harden have been an oil-and-water mix since they came together for the 2012-13 season. It was only days after Damian Lillard’s 3-point dagger eliminated them in the first round of their first playoff series together when both were sending out messages and maneuvering to get the other one traded.
Harden is a difficult teammate to play with, dominating the ball and so much of every shot clock and Howard too often felt ignored.
…….
The 30-year-old former eight-time All-Star plans to opt out of his contract this summer to become an unrestricted free agent and will reportedly seek a maximum level new deal.
