According to a report in the New York Daily News, the Celtics have engaged the Rockets in talks about center Dwight Howard, despite the fact that Howard is having his least productive season since his rookie year, averaging just 14.4 points and 11.8 rebounds.
But what makes Howard intriguing to Boston is not merely what he’s done on the floor, but the cachet he can bring the Celtics when it comes to accelerating the team’s reconstruction.
To be clear, the Rockets have held the same approach toward Howard throughout this season. They are not pushing a trade of their declining center, and they expect him to opt out of the last year (and $23.