If the Miami Heat end up bowing out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes as the trade deadline approaches, it could have more to do with how they feel about the eight-time All-Star as a person, not a player.
As with any deal involving superstar players, there would be some salary cap concerns for both the Heat and Houston Rockets. However, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reports that Miami’s concerns about Howard aren’t merely financial.
You could build a bunch of deals in which Miami sends out some combination of Dragic, Whiteside and Luol Deng for Howard, but there are factors working against it. Miami is over the tax and more likely to dump money. Houston is hard-capped, and can barely add a dime without violating league rules. Miami has questions about Howard’s character and fit, sources say, and the Heat have been sniffing around cheaper 3-and-D wings — including Randy Foye in Denver.
You have to wonder if the latest news about Chris Bosh’s health will change the Heat’s approach. Howard has a $23.2 million player option for next season, but he is almost certain to opt out of his current contract and seek a deal closer to $30 million per year with the salary cap increasing significantly.
Any team that trades for Howard would absorb his Bird Rights, meaning they could offer him a five-year contract while other teams could only offer four. Howard is 30, so it’s unlikely he will agree to a three- or four-year max deal. He’ll want to get that extra year and guarantee himself financial security into his mid-30s.
The Heat aren’t the only team that has spoken to the Rockets about a Howard trade. A previous report indicated Houston is making a certain superstar its priority this offseason. Clearing Howard’s contract off the books would make that a possibility, but character concerns could apparently complicate matters.
