Superstar center Dwight Howard is finalizing a deal to sign with the Houston Rockets and leave the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Dwight Howard spent one season with the Lakers after the Magic traded him a year ago. (AP)A formal agreement is expected to be in place soon, sources said.
"He hopes to finalize his decision [Friday night] or [Saturday] morning," Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, told Yahoo! Sports.
Howard is eligible for a four-year, $88 million maximum deal from the Rockets unless they negotiate a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers. His final hesitancy centered on leaving a fifth guaranteed year and $30 million – which the Lakers can give him – on the negotiating table, sources told Y! Sports.
Howard himself still hadn't informed the Rockets of his choice, sources told Y! Sports.
The decision would be a devastating blow to the Lakers and transform the Rockets – with Howard joining All-Star guard James Harden and a strong supporting cast – into legitimate Western Conference championship contenders.
The New Orleans Pelicans are pursuing center Rockets Omer Asik, open to the idea of trading forwardRyan Anderson to Houston, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The players' salaries make the trade palatable, and Asik would give the Pelicans a starting center to play alongside No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis. Still, the Pelicans could resist parting with Anderson if they only get Asik in return.
Anderson made his reputation in the league playing alongside Howard with the Orlando Magic. He is the kind of stretch forward who can open the floor for Howard.
In addition to the Rockets and Lakers, Howard seriously considered the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors. He informed the Mavs and Warriors earlier Friday that they were no longer in the running.
USA Today first reported Howard's decision.
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