Jason Terry would make a good politician.
He knows how to remain diplomatic, even when doing so doesn’t make much sense.
Exhibit A: After all that’s transpired between Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets this past year, he still thinks—or so he says—there’s a chance that the big man stays put this summer, as opposed to leaving in free agency. As he told SiriusXM NBA Radio,via HoopsHype:
“I wouldn’t rule (a return) out,” Terry said in an interview with Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “He has yet to opt out. Again, it’s just going to depend on if you get the right coach in there. At this point in his career, he’s not going to be the focal point offensively. They’ve made that clear. He’s gonna have to, if he remains in Houston, buy into the role fully, commit himself to setting screens, rebounding, running the floor, blocking shots and working on his free throws, obviously.”
Jason Terry is clearly more plugged in than any of us, having actually played for the Rockets and with Dwight Howard. But…come on.
Howard has publicly equivocated on whether or not he’ll opt out of his contract. The only way he doesn’t opt out, though, is if he truly believes he can set himself up for a bigger payday next summer, when the salary cap explodes. But even if that belief exists, it’s unlikely Howard acts on it. He is over 30 and playing into the back end of his career. Delaying free agency another year, when his stock has gradually declined over the past two seasons, is too great a risk.
If and when Howard does hit free agency, he’s as good as gone. He was clearly unhappy with his role in Houston last season, and it’s unlikely the Rockets pony up the cash it takes to keep him given all that’s happened.
With all due respect to Jason Terry, expect to see Howard in a different uniform next year. The real surprise would be him returning to Houston.
