NBA Free Agency: Dwight Howard to sign with Houston Rockets

Apr 9, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) on the bench in the second half against the New Orleans Hornets at the Staples Center. Lakers won 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, has chosen to sign with the Houston Rockets.

The details of the deal, and whether the Los Angeles Lakers elect to facilitate a sign-and-trade, are expected to slowly trickle out throughout the day. But for the time being, all we know is that Dwight will be a Rocket.

Earlier today, it was reported that the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks still had a chance at getting Dwight. About an hour ago, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported via Twitter that the Dwight camp had informed Mark Cuban that the Mavs were officially out.

It was then a three-team race — assuming Atlanta was out as well — between Golden State, LA and Houston.

The Warriors made it interesting down the stretch by acquiring Andre Iguodala via free agency and dumbing roughly $24 million in expiring contracts, but it wasn’t enough.

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/353274604237758464

The Rockets traded for James Harden last offseason, paving the wave for a big move like this one. Houston still might pursue another big name *cough cough Josh Smith cough cough* to create a big three.