Two of the NBA's premier big men could be trading places prior to Thursday's deadline.
The Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are reportedly discussing a potential deal involving big men Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside, according to the New York Daily News' Frank Isola.
It wouldn't be a straight player-for-player swap, though, as Whiteside's minimum salary of $981,000 pales in comparison to that of Howard and the $22.3 million he's currently making. Miami would need to send more pieces to the Lone Star State to make a trade plausible.
Related: Rockets seeking potential trades for Dwight Howard
Howard was quick to shut down previous reports he and his agent had been working with Rockets management to expedite a move out of Houston. He's currently playing in his third year with the franchise, averaging a double-double of 14.6 points and 12 rebounds through 44 games this season.
The eight-time NBA All-Star reportedly plans to opt out of his current deal this summer and go after a max contract in free agency, thus turning down his $23.2-million player option for the 2016-17 campaign.
Whiteside currently leads the league in blocked shots at 3.9 per game. Even with those numbers, the 26-year-old center has faced his fair share of criticism for being an empty defensive player, as the Heat actually allow 1.6 fewer points per 100 possessions when he's not on the floor.
Even so, Whiteside remains an enticing talent based on his size, athleticism, and knack for protecting the rim. He's averaging a double-double in his own right of 12.2 points and 11 rebounds for the 29-24 Heat.
As an unrestricted free agent, there's always the chance Whiteside signs elsewhere and leaves Houston hanging should a trade be struck before Feb. 18. Then again, that could also happen with Howard if he chooses to opt out.
