Dwight Howard Reportedly Unhappy Playing Alongside James Harden

[Big Bid'Ness]

 

Dwight Howard Reportedly Unhappy Playing Alongside James Harden

The Houston Rockets have been one of the biggest early disappointments in the 2015-16 NBA season coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance, and there is reportedly some tension in the locker room.
 
According to Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, center “Dwight Howard is extremely unhappy in Houston playing second fiddle to alpha dog James Harden.”        
 
Sheridan speculated that the Rockets could attempt to move Howard and guessed they could strike a deal with the Miami Heat for center Hassan Whiteside.
 
Dan Feldman of NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk discussed Houston's perspective on any potential trade involving Howard: "Howard can opt out this summer, and Houston already has a viable replacement starting center–Clint Capela, who’s nine years younger than Howard. Both factors nudge the needle toward a trade. Howard being unhappy would push it even further."
 
This wouldn’t be the first time Howard had issues with a high-profile teammate. Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com detailed the big man’s sometimes icy relationship with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant when the two played together and in the immediate aftermath:

It stems from Howard's leaving the Lakers in free agency and signing with the Rockets in the summer of 2013. That left Bryant and Lakers fans bitter. In last season’s season opener, Howard elbowed Bryant in the face twice. Bryant called Howard soft and dared him to start a fight. Howard laughed that off.

Howard was unquestionably the man when he was with the Orlando Magic, but that has no longer been the case with the Lakers and now Rockets. However, he is 30 years old and didn't win a single title as the featured piece on those Magic teams. Perhaps he needs to find some type of chemistry with another star if he ever hopes to hold the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
 
To be fair, the Houston offense is dominated by Harden. He shoots 20.3 times a game and is constantly looked to as the primary creator, ball-handler and scorer. As for Howard, he is averaging 13 points a night, which would be his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2004-05 with the Magic.
 
What’s more, the Houston big man is shooting 8.3 times per game, which is far less than Harden’s 20.3 and actually puts Howard behind teammates Trevor Ariza, Marcus Thornton and Terrence Jones in the same category.
 
Considering Howard is shooting 60.1 percent from the field compared to Ariza’s 37.7, Jones’ 43.8 and Thornton’s 44.1, it doesn’t seem like the most effective utilization of resources for the Rockets to maximize their offense.
 
Howard has never averaged fewer than 10.2 shots a game in his entire career except that rookie campaign, when he posted 8.3. Although injuries have cut into his effectiveness since he joined the Rockets before the 2013-14 season (he only played 41 games in 2014-15), he is still an eight-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA member.
 
Harden is one of the league’s best players, but Houston may be better than 12-13 if its star big man was more involved on the offensive end.



 

 

[bosoxlover12]

Such a fucking rumor lol


Sheridan speculated that because Dwight only gets 8spg, that he doesn't like harden and that the Rockets are trying to trade him


So speculative.

 

[elcheato]

The critically acclaimed SheridanHoops.com!

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

The best everrrrr lol

 

[Pugz]

if that was the case id rather try to deal harden.

 

[BwareDWare94]

I wish James was the old one because then this decision would be easy. He is the problem, but he's only in his mid twenties while Dwight is in his thirties. Fuck.
 
Obviously, I want Harden gone because his style of play will never win a championship. I want him gone or I want him to change. It's that simple.

 

[NV]

Would anyone be surprised though?
 
Dwights always on his period. 

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

 





Dwight Howard on Reportedly Being Unhappy in Houston: ‘Lies’

 

 

A report came out Wednesday claiming that Rockets center Dwight Howard had soured on Houston and was looking for a way out, and that there was possibly another deal involving the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings in the works.
 
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat

Have been told from inside the Heat absolutely nothing to speculation linking Whiteside to Dwight Howard or DeMarcus Cousins.

4:34 PM - 15 Dec 2015

 
The big fella threw cold water on the whole thing Thursday, saying these claims were completely untrue.
Howard says though he’s obviously not thrilled with the Rockets’ two-game losing streak, he’s not demanding a trade.
Per the Houston Chronicle:
Howard called the report “lies” and said he has never expressed any dissatisfaction with his role.
 
“I haven’t said anything to anybody about anything,” Howard said. “People make up lies and rumors. That’s never been my focus. I’m trying to get these guys to play better and get myself to play better. […] People are going to say what they got to say to get a story out. People are always going to come up with some rumor and lies. That’s what it is. I can’t focus on that. And I don’t want my teammates to focus on that.”
 
Howard is averaging 13.6 points per game on just 8.3 shots per game. But he said last week he was not concerned with his own offense, believing that his role would increase throughout the season. […] “I want us to win,” Howard said. “We had two upsetting losses. We’re all frustrated because we know we can play better. I haven’t said anything to any reporter or to anybody about being unhappy. That’s only noise. All the other stuff is lies.”

 

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

 

Howard Expected to Opt Out

Wednesday, Dec. 16
According to USA Today's Sam Amick, Howard appears headed for free agency when the season comes to a close.    
 
"Howard has a player option for next season worth $23.2 million, but a person with knowledge of the Rockets situation said they are expecting him to opt out and become a free agent," Amick wrote. "The person spoke to USA Today Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the situation."
The news comes on the heels of a report from Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com that indicated Howard has grown unhappy playing the role of sidekick to Rockets superstar James Harden. 
Howard hand-picked Houston when he signed a four-year, $87.6 million deal with the Rockets prior to the 2013-14 season, and he reiterated his commitment to the franchise during the team's current three-game road trip, per Amick: 

I chose to go to Houston (via free agency in the summer of 2013), so why would I just say, 'I'm not happy' and leave. I chose this place, you know what I'm saying? And I want to make this thing work here. Obviously we haven't been playing great basketball, and personally for myself my numbers don't seem like I've been playing great, but the only thing on my mind is trying to grow as a man and grow as a teammate and a leader. All the BS that's around, sometimes it is frustrating to hear it, because I know who I am as a man and I know what I'm trying to do for this city.

The Rockets' season started in disappointing fashion, and the team wasted no time firing former head coach Kevin McHale following a 4-7 start. However, Houston has only been marginally better since, going 8-7 with interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff. 
 
Complicating matters is the fact that Howard is averaging just 12.6 points and 11.6 rebounds while attempting a meager 8.3 shots a night. 
 
Considering the salary cap is slated to jump to approximately $90 million next season, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), it would make sense for Howard to test the free-agent waters and try to nab one more lucrative long-term deal at 30 years old.

 
All these reports lol.

 

[Pugz]

he would have opted out regardless of these rumors

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Well sheridanhoops is garbage.

But it's Dwight Howard and James Harden, so who the hell knows

 

[Shaggy]

I haven't watched them play.  Are they playing that bad together?

 

[BwareDWare94]

I haven't watched them play.  Are they playing that bad together?

 
Nobody plays well with James Harden. There's a reason Ty Lawson has been a huge bust for Houston and it ain't Lawson that's the problem.
 
James is too ball dominant in a terrible way. Too many shots, too few makes, no chance at a rhythm for his teammates. Guys who can clean up the misses like Howard and TJones can have nice numbers but it has next to nothing to do with anything Harden is consciously doing.

 

[bosoxlover12]

I mean, it kinda is a Lawson problem. There's a reason Houston got him significantly lower in value than most expected