It was only a matter of time, a question of how long before we reached this point with Dwight Howard again. Four years after Howard forced his way out of Orlando, three years following a disastrous one-season stint with the Lakers and less than three seasons into his run with Houston, Howard once again finds himself facing an uncertain future. The Rockets have engaged teams – including Boston – about a potential Howard deal, league sources told The Vertical, and while it’s unlikely Houston moves Howard before the Feb. 18 trade deadline, his long-term future with the franchise is very much in doubt. Howard won’t be going to Boston, league sources told The Vertical, and the reason is simple: The asking price is just too steep. The Celtics like Howard, believe he can be a cornerstone player but are unwilling to part with any significant assets – including Brooklyn’s coveted first-round pick – to get him. Boston is aggressively pursuing deals and is motivated to add a frontcourt player to its promising young roster, but Howard won’t be one of them. Houston reacted the way it had to regarding the Howard trade rumors, denying any interest in dealing him and vowing to build around him. There’s no reason to believe the Rockets don’t like Howard and don’t want him to be part of the future. Phrasing is important in a story like this; Houston has not been so much shopping Howard as taking the temperature of teams about the assets needed to deal for him. Howard is averaging the fewest points (14.4) since his rookie season but remains an effective rebounder (11.9) and shot blocker (1.5). Slam his disposition, fit him for a dunce cap, but there are not five centers in the NBA many general managers would take over him. - See more at http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dwight...l?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons&soc_trk=fb
