How the Celtics still make sense as a Dwight Howard trade destination
Leading up to the Feb. 18 trade deadline, theScore's NBA editors will try to find the best deals for players reportedly on the market. Next up, Dwight Howard.
Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics want to turn some of their myriad draft picks and their glut of frontcourt players into a bonafide star player. While the wisdom of banking on Dwight Howard as that star can be debated all day and night, reports have indicated that initial discussions regarding Howard have been had between the Celts and Houston Rockets.
With that in mind, here is a proposition: The Rockets send Howard to Boston for David Lee, Amir Johnson, and more notably, the two lesser of three first-round picks the Celtics currently own in June's draft.
There are some caveats here. If the Dallas Mavericks were to completely collapse after the All-Star break, they could theoretically recapture the pick they owe Boston as it is top-seven protected (by the same token, if hell were to freeze over and the Brooklyn Nets went undefeated in February and March, the prized current top-three pick the Celts own would lose its luster).
It was reported last week that the Rockets' asking price to the Celtics for Howard was too steep, likely because Houston was interested in that high draft spot, unprotected by the Nets' ineptitude.
It's understandable that Boston wouldn't want to give up that particular selection. It's one of those deals folks in the year 2031 may look back on with the same sort of lament that Grizzlies fans of a certain vintage might view their team's trading of the eventual No. 2 pick in 2003 for Otis Thorpe (nobody said Memphis would have drafted Darko Milicic like the Detroit Pistons did, with names like Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh still on the board).
Yet if the Rockets want to part ways with Howard, they should consider the other two first-rounders the Celtics own (Nos. 19 and 22 as of Feb. 9).
While it can be argued that Howard has regressed and been adversely affected by various injuries, the fact remains he is a double-double waiting to happen, a true interior anchor with three Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name.
In addition to the draft assets for Rockets GM Daryl Morey, Lee is an attractive trade chip by virtue of his expiring contract alone. In Johnson, the Rockets get back a capable defensive big who can play both the four and five in the absence of Howard - and the oft-injured Terrence Jones. Johnson's contract is also non-guaranteed next season.
The deal would clearly reek of a reset of sorts for the Rockets, but few would argue that is not a legitimately decent idea. James Harden is their franchise player, and he's 26 with a fairly economical two years left on his contract after this season. The core of he and Howard are not winning an NBA title, and that's not even mentioning the matter of Ty Lawson.
Changes need to be made, and Morey has been fairly astute at both managing and transferring assets. They are also expected to make a run at Kevin Durant.
For the Celtics, if they want Howard - even with the potential headaches and opt-out next summer - they get him.