Magic, Bucks, Trail Blazers and Hornets the favorites for Dwight Howard

by | Apr 27, 2016

Dwight Howard seems as good as gone from the Houston Rockets and the suitors lining up for his services this summer seem plentiful.

According to ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins, the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets stand alone as the favorite to land D12 this summer after he opts out.

Granted, the Rockets haven’t been eliminated from the postseason just yet, but it seems inevitable at this point with the team in a 3-1 hole against the Golden State Warriors.

The potential list of favorites is interesting, to say the least. The Magic wouldn’t mind a reunion with Howard after discovering building through the draft is harder than it looks. Howard is more mature and a homecoming might not be so bad. Howard playing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker in Milwaukee would be fun, as would pick-and-rolls with Damian Lillard in Portland. Howard joining the upstart Hornets would make some sense as well.

And then there is the Mavericks, who will need to re-sign Chandler Parsons this offseason and bring on more talent. Parsons, for one, would like Howard to join him in Dallas, as captured by Michael Lark of Mavs Fanatic:

For his part, Howard has made it clear he wont entertain thoughts about where he goes until the Rockets don’t have a place in the playoffs. Howard spoke with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle about the topic:

Is he a prophet?” Howard said of Parsons’ prediction that Howard will leave Houston. “Our focus is on this basketball game. It doesn’t matter what anybody on the outside says. We are friends. We’re close. None of that stuff matters right now. This is about this team right here, what we’re trying to accomplish. Who cares what anybody else says?

It’s the right move by Howard, but everyone knows he’s opting out and will consider his options.

When he does hit the market, it seems Howard will have his pick of interesting locales and change the landscape of the Association in a major way. Don’t blink.