NBA

The Rockets Are Pretty Much Offering Up Their Entire Team As A Blood Sacrifice To Dwight Howard

For weeks, many speculated that Dwight Howard’s eventual team would be the Brooklyn Nets. The only problem was, the Nets’ trade proposals were never that good. With the Magic needing to move the perenially-unhappy Howard, many wondered if Orlando would be forced to accept the Nets’ offer so the Magic could take what they could get.

But new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan was patient, and his patience may have paid off. Reports are coming out today that the Houston Rockets, who have all along made it known they are interested in acquiring Howard, are retooling a trade proposal which blows away anything the Nets had offered.

It all began when Houston amnestied Louis Scola, who had three years and $21 million remaining on his contract. Houston’s goal was to clear enough cap space to not only acquire Howard, but also take on some of Orlando’s lengthy and more lucrative contracts to sweeten the deal. Houston is believed to be offering to take on some combination of the toxic waste contract dump that is Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, Glen Davis and Chris Duhon. So, while the Rockets would be getting their franchise center, the Magic would end up with a clean cap slate and could start from scratch in rebuilding its roster.

In addition to the dump, the players and assets Houston is said to be offering up also may make the Magic strongly consider Houston’s offer.

Sources say the Rockets would have to send Kevin Martin, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris and Chandler Parsons to the Magic from their current roster to make the salary-cap math work, as well the draft rights to Jeremy Lamb, Royce White and Terrence Jones, all selected in last month’s first round.
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But Houston, sources say, is also offering multiple first-round picks to the Magic, including a potential lottery pick acquired this week from Toronto in the Kyle Lowry deal. Future picks are known to hold great appeal to new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, and no team in the recent running for Howard — Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers are the other two top suitors — has a first-rounder of that caliber to send to Orlando.

Still, ESPN also reported that Orlando may not be interested in revisiting Howard trade options until next week. Part of that includes speculation that by next week, Houston will have sorted out its offer sheet with Omer Asik, who the team is reportedly going to extend a contract after it sorts out its situation with Jeremy Lin. So, lots of sorting being done, but for now, Houston looks about ready to go all-in on Howard.

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