NBA: Media: Howard before buyout in Brooklyn

Shortly after his trade with the Brooklyn Nets, Dwight Howard is about to cancel his contract again. As ESPN reports, both sides have already begun talks.

On Wednesday, Howard’s old team Charlotte and the Nets agreed on a trade to send the centre for Timofey Mozgov and two first-round picks to Brooklyn. Due to formalities, however, this can only be made official from July 1, when the new league year begins.

A short time later, however, there could be another change for the eight-time All-Star. The contract is to be bought out, guaranteeing Howard 23.8 million dollars next year. He would then be able to choose a new team as a free agent.

“I want to be in a situation where I can help a team win,” said 32-year-old ESPN on the phone. “This is my only goal. All I need is a real opportunity and a situation where people don’t keep talking about my past.”

The trade surprised him, Howard continued: “I was really shocked because I hadn’t expected it. I thought it was a really good season. It was my best year in a while in terms of health and my statistics have been among the best since I started playing in the NBA.” But it’s not tragic: “Everything happens for a reason,” Howard says.

The three-time defensive player of the year scored 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 81 games in his only season for the Hornets. In view of this productivity, there should again be many interested parties for him as soon as the buyout is finalized.