Source: Dwight Howard seeks a deal with a $24M starting salary

Calvin WatkinsESPN Staff Writer

When Dwight Howard starts having his free-agent meetings on Friday, he'll seek a contract starting at $24 million a season, according to a source.

Howard is expected to conduct his meetings in his hometown of Atlanta, with the Hawks and Boston Celtics having secured the first discussions with the center.

Portland and Charlotte have also expressed interest in Howard, who declined a player option with the Rockets at $23.2 million.

The amount Howard is seeking isn't that far from what he declined with the Rockets. However, the Rockets don't believe Howard was worth $23.2 million and wanted the 30-year old to take a contract at a reduced financial package.

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Sources: Hawks, Celtics secure Howard meetings

Dwight Howard, who became a free agent when he declined his player option with the Rockets, has granted meetings to the Hawks and Celtics, sources say.

Howard averaged 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season. He averaged just 8.5 field goal attempts per game, his lowest output since 8.3 his rookie year in 2004-05.

Howard is one of several centers entering free agency seeking big-time money. Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside and Howard are at the top of the list. Detroit's Andre Drummond is a restricted free agent, and any offer he receives is expected to be matched by the Pistons.

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Howard will sign with Boston.

Dboss

Just like last year all the top FA will probably resign with their teams.

Horford wants to stay in ATLANTA.

Howard may be best option for a center.

Dboss

dboss wrote:Just like last year all the top FA will probably resign with their teams.

Horford wants to stay in ATLANTA.  

Howard may be best option for a center.

Dboss

Howard isn't considered a top free agent?

dboss wrote:Howard will sign with Boston.

Dboss

Do you think Boston will give Dwight 3/$75m or 4/$100m?

Ram wrote:

dboss wrote:Just like last year all the top FA will probably resign with their teams.

Horford wants to stay in ATLANTA.  

Howard may be best option for a center.

Dboss

Howard isn't considered a top free agent?

RAM. he is a Top FA probably top 4 for centers

Dboss

tjmakz wrote:

dboss wrote:Howard will sign with Boston.

Dboss

Do you think Boston will give Dwight 3/$75m or 4/$100m?

I think he will get 4 @ $25 mill per. Unreal money

Dboss

dboss wrote:

tjmakz wrote:

dboss wrote:Howard will sign with Boston.

Dboss

Do you think Boston will give Dwight 3/$75m or 4/$100m?

I think he will get 4 @ $25 mill per.  Unreal money

Dboss

That's a tough call to give Dwight $100m at this point in his career.
He is nowhere near the player he was with Orlando.
He finished 29th out of NBA centers last season in blocks per 48 minutes.
He's still a good rebounder.

We all know about his lack of offense, free throw shooting and antics on and off the court.

You can probably expect 14 and 10 from him this year if he plays 30 minutes.

Adding Brown and Howard would make Boston's poor outside shooting significantly worse.

Rich Levine
@rich_levine about 12 minutes ago
Expectation is that Dwight Howard + Mike Budenholzer will spend tonight in the fantasy suite and announce a final decision in the morning

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bob
MY NOTE:  He's perfect for Atlanta.  Perfect.  I don't know why they even need dinner, they should just sign now and then go out for a celebratory meal.  Immediately, if not sooner.  PLEASE!!  I BEG YOU!!  

.

dboss wrote:

Ram wrote:

dboss wrote:Just like last year all the top FA will probably resign with their teams.

Horford wants to stay in ATLANTA.  

Howard may be best option for a center.

Dboss

Howard isn't considered a top free agent?

RAM. he is a Top FA probably top 4 for centers

Dboss

Just making sure b/c you said all the top free agents will re-sign with their previous teams. Howard is almost certainly not going back to Houston.