James Harden has not really talked with Dwight Howard since season ended

James Harden says he has not really talked with Dwight Howard since the season ended, marking yet another sign that the center is likely to head elsewhere in the coming weeks.

Howard informed the Rockets during the week of his plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. Houston thought the hiring of new head coach Mike D’Antoni, who coached Howard on the Lakers, might be a positive factor in trying to sway Dwight, but it seems there are some greater problems. Namely, it has long seemed that Howard and Harden do no care much for each other. Harden’s comments on Thursday signify that.

“He’s his own man, he knows what’s best for his career,” Harden said from his basketball camp, via ESPN’s Calvin Watkins. “I haven’t really talked to him, he’ll make whatever is the best decision (for him).”

This comment from Harden should not really come as a surprise. A report in April indicated the relationship between the two stars was “cordially bad.”

Though he’s not courting Howard, Harden says he has spoken with his former Thunder teammate Kevin Durant and plans to try recruiting him to the Rockets. That’s probably a major longshot, but it’s worth Harden’s best efforts.