Dwight Howard is a desperate man. He may be even more desperate when the NBA's 2016 free agency begins.
The disgruntled Rockets center reportedly wants out of Houston so badly that he was pining to commit to the lowly Bucks -- well, at least for three months, according to CBS Sports.
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The Rockets and Bucks had a deal that would've sent Howard to Milwaukee, Bucks announcer Gus Johnson told CBS Sports. All Howard had to do was to opt-in for 2016-17.
Of course, he wouldn't, so the deal never went through.
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"During the Rockets' visit to Milwaukee on Monday night, Bucks announcer Gus Johnson recounted a conversation with Howard in which they talked about him heading to Milwaukee at the deadline," CBS Sports reported. "According to Johnson, Howard didn't want to opt in (confirming deadline reports) but did say he likes Milwaukee and insinuated he may have re-signed there."
The Bucks can't be blamed for wanting to take a chance on Howard. In the last 27 years, they've been to the playoffs only 11 times and just once advanced past the first round. That was in 2000-01, when coach George Karl and star Ray Allen took the team to the Eastern Conference finals.
But with the baggage Howard has accumulated during his NBA career, combined with the skills that have been diminished, who does he think will pay him close to the money he thinks he deserves?
It was widely reported that Howard contributed to Stan Van Gundy's firing in Orlando in 2012, and then he left a month later to sign with the Lakers.
And how did that one season go for the Lakers, anyway? A team featuring Howard, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol eked into the playoffs, Bryant blew out his Achilles, and the Spurs swept them in the first round.
Howard signed with the Rockets in the summer of 2013 and was paired with superstar James Harden. Houston reached the Western Conference finals last season. But with rumors of a feud between Harden and Howard, the Rockets are fighting for a playoff spot.
If the Rockets miss the playoffs, Howard will have had a hand in taking down three organizations, including the mighty Lakers.
The Bucks may be as good as it gets for Howard during the 2016 free-agency period.
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