NBA Thread

[Emperor Smeat]

Originally Posted by ESPN When Dwight Howard starts having his free agent meetings on Friday he'll seek a contract starting at $24 million a season according to a source. Howard is expected to conduct his meetings in his hometown of Atlanta with the Hawks and the Boston Celtics having secured the first discussions with the center. Portland and Charlotte have also expressed interest in Howard, who declined a player option with the Rockets at $23.2 million. The amount Howard is seeking isn't that far off from what he declined with the Rockets. However, the Rockets don't believe Howard was worth paying $23.2 million and wanted the 30-year old to take a contract at a reduced financial package. Howard averaged 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season. Howard averaged just 8.5 field goal attempts per game, his lowest output since his rookie year of 8.3, in 2004-05.

While it looks like Plan A to get Kevin Durrant might not happen, really hope the Cs don't sign Howard as a Plan B. Not worth that kind of money nor the possible headaches he brings based on his time with the Rockets and Lakers.

Ainge already messed up his plans a bit with the somewhat poor draft recently mostly due to the lack of a quality big man he wanted for the #3 pick.