Dwight Howard reportedly will sit down with Danny Ainge and Co. once NBA free agency opens this Friday.
After declining his $23.2 million player option with the Houston Rockets, Howard has scheduled a free-agent meeting with the Boston Celtics, sources told ESPN’s Chris Broussard and Marc Stein early Wednesday morning.
The 30-year-old big man also will meet with the Atlanta Hawks, per ESPN’s sources, and is expected to have negotiations with as many as five teams.
Howard, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career. He shot a career-best 62.0 percent from the floor in 71 games for Houston but averaged just 13.7 points per game, his lowest mark since his rookie year.
Howard also reportedly did not mesh well with his teammates on a thoroughly dysfunctional Rockets squad and has a history of back and knee injuries, though he immediately would become the Celtics’ best rim protector and low-post threat.
NBA free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday.
Thumbnail photo Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
