The Detroit Pistons are pushing for a meeting with big man Al Horford after the beginning of free agency, reports ESPN's Zach Lowe. Horford, a four-time All-Star, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday and should have several suitors for his services.
NBA free agent rumors 2016: Pistons working to meet with Al Horford
The Pistons are hoping to land a meeting with Al Horford after free agency begins. Plus, Dwyane Wade’s latest maneuvers and the possibility of a Rockets-Dwight reunion.
A max contract is a lock for Horford, and the Pistons moved closer to being able to offer him one by trading Jodie Meeks on Wednesday. Sending Meeks to the Magic cleared his $6.5 million salary for next season, and now Detroit isn't far from being able to offer Horford the same max contract terms as other potential landing spots like Boston and Los Angeles.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have the ability to offer Horford a fifth year that nobody else can, but it's not clear they will. According to Lowe, Atlanta is "reluctant" to offer Horford a five-year deal, which is the team's greatest possible advantage over others in contract talks. If the Hawks hold firm in refusing to offer more than four years, "they are at grave risk of losing him for nothing," per Lowe.
That could open up the door for a team like the Pistons, although it's fair to wonder whether they're a perfect fit. Detroit already has a star big man in Andre Drummond, and Horford has spent a lot of time playing at center. In the past, the Pistons struggled when trying to pair Drummond with big men such as Josh Smith and Greg Monroe. Horford would seem like a questionable fit in the same vein, although he's better than either of those players and would give Stan Van Gundy a very talented piece to work with.
Dwyane Wade using Spurs, Mavs rumors to create leverage with Heat
Earlier this week, it was reported that talks between the Heat and Dwyane Wade had stalled and the All-Star guard was open to receiving offers from other teams on July 1. Then on Wednesday, Wade reportedly reached out to the Spurs and Mavericks to signal his availability before free agency opens.
Signs of Wade’s time in South Beach coming to an end? Not so fast. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the primary motivation behind Wade’s recent maneuvers has been to create leverage in talks with the Heat. The guard still considers Miami his favorite landing spot and is hoping that some interest from a team like San Antonio or Dallas might spur the Heat to get a deal done.
Wade re-signed with the Heat last season for one year and $20 million after some occasionally contentious talks. Miami has been trying to create a contender in the East around Wade, but now the team has turned its wishful eyes toward Kevin Durant. However, signing Durant and retaining key free agents Wade and Hassan Whiteside would be almost impossible, so Miami's summer could still go a number of ways.
Rockets want Dwight Howard back on non-max salary
All indications have pointed to Dwight Howard leaving Houston, but it appears a return might be possible if he’s willing to sign for less than the max. The Rockets would “welcome back” Howard on a non-max contract, reports USA Today’s Sam Amick.
Howard is set to become a free agent on July 1 after opting out of his deal with the Rockets. The general belief has been that he would sign elsewhere after a rocky three-year stint in Houston and that the team would be just fine letting him walk.
So it's fair to wonder how this would all work. Howard is one of the top free agents on the market this summer even after a relatively disappointing season. With the salary cap going up so much, there's a good chance someone gives him a max salary. And even if nobody did offer him one, would the Rockets really be his most appealing suitor after how the past three seasons played out? The Trail Blazers are rumored to be interested on a short-term deal and he could also return home to play in Atlanta.
There’s a lot to unpack here, but it seems like a Howard-Houston reunion isn’t quite dead yet.
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