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The Houston Rockets met with Josh Smith on Monday in Los Angeles and the sides discussed the possibility of playing with Dwight Howard.

The Rockets only have enough cap space to sign one max contract player, but Smith could be acquired if the Atlanta Hawks were to agree to a sign-and-trde.

The Rockets have been discussing trade scenarios involving both Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. Both players will earn $8.3 million each of the next two seasons.

Smith and Howard are close friends.

Via Sam Amick/USA Today

chaddie01 wrote:They may be good friends but their game does not fit well. Howard needs a stretch 4 something Smith is not. Pau is a better shooter/passer than Smith is and that did not work. Howard was at his best with the Magic with Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson.

Preach

sure, if he is willing to accept 8mi/yr, thus the rockets can keep Asik and Lin...

alanwatts wrote:

chaddie01 wrote:They may be good friends but their game does not fit well. Howard needs a stretch 4 something Smith is not. Pau is a better shooter/passer than Smith is and that did not work. Howard was at his best with the Magic with Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson.

Preach

Defense would be amazing though.

They could also play an up-and-down uptempo, fast break type game.

youblewwit wrote:

alanwatts wrote:

chaddie01 wrote:They may be good friends but their game does not fit well. Howard needs a stretch 4 something Smith is not. Pau is a better shooter/passer than Smith is and that did not work. Howard was at his best with the Magic with Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson.

Preach

Defense would be amazing though.

They could also play an up-and-down uptempo, fast break type game.

It's not hard to add shooters. If you can get Smith and Howard, you do it, and worry about fit later.

Howard is a moron. period.

He wants Houston to add another top agent to the roster.

If Howard is willing to sign with 68 for 4 years with Rockets....maybe they still can nab a top agent who is willing to sign with Rockets for 24 million for 3 years...

I don't think Howard will go Mavericks since Mavericks haven't signed any players that intrigues Howard...

If Mavericks can sign a top tier player, which can fit perfectly with Howard's style of play....

I think Mavericks still has a chance to acquire Howard...

Nowitzki is already a proven Champion and a great leader.... as long as they can pursue one of the top PGs available in the free agency (maybe someone like Nate Robinson) I think Howard will seriously consider...

As for Rockets...I feel like they're making the wrong moves to pursue Howard... giving away Lin and Asik to clear salary cap I understand...but Asik is such an important piece to Rockets, I think it's a big waste to try and trade him away just to get Howard....Even though Lin had a bad season, but it is much easier to replace someone like Lin than someone like Asik... It is really hard to find top quality Centers in NBA now... I really don't think is such a good idea to sacrifice Asik for Howard.... just my 2 cents

I stopped reading after:

edward00 wrote: .... as long as they can pursue one of the top PGs available in the free agency (maybe someone like Nate Robinson) I think Howard will seriously consider...

At the end of the day Dwight resigns with the Lakers, the Rockets and Warriors still reach the playoffs, the Hawks rebuild and the Mavs are the big losers of the free agency...

urgal wrote:I stopped reading after:

edward00 wrote: .... as long as they can pursue one of the top PGs available in the free agency (maybe someone like Nate Robinson) I think Howard will seriously consider...

At the end of the day Dwight resigns with the Lakers, the Rockets and Warriors still reach the playoffs, the Hawks rebuild and the Mavs are the big losers of the free agency...

Dwight wont resign with the Lakers and the Hawks just blew up their entire roster last year and still made the playoffs. They wont rebuild. They will continue to add pieces that complement the overall team. The Mavs have too much capspace to be the big losers. However, I agree that the Rockets and Warriors will make the playoffs

chaddie01 wrote: Howard is just an athletic version of Asik and maybe a tad bit better on the offensive side. Defensively and Rebounding I'd say they're even given Howard's recent injuries.

Not even close. Howard is on another planet compared to Asik. D12 has a better FG%, more blocks, WAY more assists, more steals, rebounds better. In an injured year he averaged 17 ppg to Asik's 10. Just FYI.