Dwight Howard, who declined his 2016-17 player option with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, will become a free agent this summer. The New York Knicks are among the teams the 30-year-old center would consider in free agency, reports Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Begley writes that Howard told friends earlier in the season that he was interested in playing for the Knicks, and that interest still remains as the eight-time All-Star prepares to enter free agency, per Begley.
The Rockets made the Western Conference Finals in Howard’s second year but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season by the Golden State Warriors. Howard averaged 13.2 points and 14 rebounds in the series against Golden State. He averaged 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds during the regular season.
It’s unclear if the Knicks would have interest in Howard. They signed Robin Lopez to a four-year contract last summer, and the team has been itching to upgrade the point guard position. The Knicks recently added $30 million in cap space with Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams opting out of their contracts, which could accommodate a Howard signing, but the backcourt seems to be a bigger priority.