Dwight Howard's decision is expected soon. The Los Angeles Lakers, now fearful it may have slipped to No. 4 on Howard's list, are reportedly willing to consider sign-and-trade proposals. It's great news for the Houston Rockets, which now has the opportunity to create its own Big Three by signing both Howard and Josh Smith to join James Harden.
Houston cleared cap space for Howard by trading Thomas Robinson to the Portland Trail Blazers. If the Lakers are open to a sign-and-trade deal, Houston has an offer ready: Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.
Asik is a 7-foot defensive anchor, and Lin has upside - he also played his best basketball in New York under Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. Although Los Angeles had been adamant about letting Howard simply walk, if he chose, for the resultant cap space in preparation for the summer of 2014, a recent ESPN report claimed the Lakers are now reconsidering.
A sign-and-trade deal is a dream come true for Houston. If it happens, the team will have enough room to sign another big-name free agent - like Josh Smith.
The Rockets' met on Monday with Smith. One topic of their discussion was the possibility of Smith joining Howard, his childhood friend from their AAU days in Atlanta, in Houston, according to USA Today Sports.
Part of signing Smith could rely on convincing the Atlanta Hawks to also partake in a sign-and-trade.
There're a lot of ifs, but it's within the realm of possibility that Houston could acquire both Howard and Smith. Howard, Smith and Harden would turn Houston into a legitimate threat in the Western Conference.
*NOTE: Article published prior to USA Today Sports reporting Howard will sign with the Rockets.
