The Houston Rockets plan to trade guard Jeremy Lin if they can land free-agent center Dwight Howard, according to CBSNews.com.
The Rockets met with the Los Angeles Lakers All-Star big man early Monday, the first of at least five teams expected to make pitches to him during the first week of free agency. Besides the Lakers, the Mavericks, Warriors and his hometown Atlanta Hawks are all slated to meet with him.
Lin came to Houston from the Knicks as a free agent last summer amid almost as much hoopla as what the Howard chase is now creating. During his “Linsanity” filled season in New York, Lin averaged 15 points and 6.2 assists. In his first season in Houston, both of those numbers dipped slightly to 14.3 and 6.1 respectively.
Growing ever-more confident they will be able to land Howard, sources told CBS Houston has also made center Omer Asik available. On Sunday, the team traded forward Thomas Robinson to Portland and waived guards Aaron Brooks and Carlos Delfino, all in an effort to create more cap space for a potential deal with Howard.
Houston secured the first meeting with Howard on Sunday, arriving with a contingent that included GM Daryl Morey, and former Rocket Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.
The Lakers are expected to be the last team that can meet with Howard and are hoping their ability to offer him nearly $30 million more in salary will pay off. The most Houston can offer is $88 million over four years.
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