Report: Celtics have engaged Rockets in Dwight Howard talks
With a number of young, cost-controlled players and a bevy of additional draft picks giving them a glut of valuable assets, the Boston Celtics are perhaps the best-positioned team to make a major splash on the trade market.
One such splash could involve eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, as the Celtics have reportedly engaged the Houston Rockets in trade talks revolving around Howard, according to the New York Daily News' Frank Isola.
While the Celtics do have interest in adding a back to the basket scorer, the talks aren't expected to progress much further than their current, according to Comcast Sportsnet's A. Sherrod Blakely, who cites a league source.
After a surprise playoff appearance and 40-win campaign last season, the Celtics sit fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 28-22, with the league's sixth-best average point differential (+4.2).
Still, even with first-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas leading the charge, Boston likely lacks the requisite star power to make a deep postseason run, and has the aforementioned assets to swing a deal for such a star.
Whether Howard can still be that caliber of top-tier star is another matter.
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The 30-year-old three-time Defensive Player of the Year has been slowed by back and knee injuries over the last few years, but even in a down year for his standards is averaging 14.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and a steal for Houston, which sits seventh out West.
Howard, who's earning more than $22 million this season, can opt out of his current deal and become an unrestricted free agent in July.
The Celtics own the woeful Brooklyn Nets' unprotected first-round pick this summer, the Dallas Mavericks' 2016 first-rounder, the Nets' unprotected 2018 first-round pick, and the Memphis Grizzlies' 2018 first-rounder. Boston can also swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in 2017.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that the Celtics are looking to deal veteran big man David Lee before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.