Mannix: C's may make offseason run at Howard

CSNNE

Just because Dwight Howard didn't come to Boston before the trade deadline doesn't mean he's never coming to Boston.

On Yahoo! Sports, Chris Mannix -- a frequent contributor to Comcast SportsNet New England's Celtics telecasts -- makes the case that the C's may, in fact, be one of Howard's most ardent suitors if, as expected, he declines his player option and becomes a free agent this offseason:

The Celtics were involved in (trade talks involving Howard at the deadline), league sources (said) . . . but, like everyone else, were not interested in paying Houston's price. Yet Celtics president Danny Ainge is a fan of Howard. [Former Rockets coach and former Ainge teammate] Kevin McHale gave Ainge a strong endorsement of Howard, and there are few people in the NBA Ainge respects more than Mac. Boston has a hole in the middle and money to spend; to the Celtics, Howard is intriguing.

If the Celtics do plan to make a serious run at Howard in July, their lack of action yesterday makes a bit more sense.

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