Dwight Howard is giving up a lot of money from the Houston Rockets for the opportunity to make even more money as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The veteran center reportedly has opted out of his contract.
This isn’t a surprise at all. The salary cap is going up and lots of teams have cap space as a result. Howard still is a pretty good player in a league where the center’s role and importance arguably is at an all-time low.
Howard averaged 13.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this season. Howard’s scoring average was his lowest since his rookie campaign 11 years ago, and he’s missed more than 60 games over the last three seasons because of injuries.
That said, expect him to be paid quite well when free agency begins July 1. Teams will value his rebounding, defense and inside scoring, even if he’s not the elite player of the past.
Thumbnail photo via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Images
