Howard buyout will shape Nets’ plans
LAS VEGAS — After the Nets’ acquisition of Dwight Howard became official Friday, they were all set to make it officially obsolete.
General manager Sean Marks said he expected to reach a buyout agreement with Howard — a negotiation that will largely shape Brooklyn’s summer strategy.
“We’re negotiating, and we’ll see when that gets done [Friday],’’ Marks said before the Nets asked waivers on Howard.
“I’d expect it to be done [Friday]. If you look at the way we’re trying to build a team and you look at going forward years out from now, this is something that helps us going forward for next year.
“Dwight’s a terrific player. He’s been a terrific player in this league for a long time. I think this is something that we mutually agreed on, to give him an opportunity elsewhere.”
It was unclear how mutual it was. Howard had tried to force trades to Brooklyn years ago, and sources said he was more than willing to live in New York and play for the Nets. The Nets, on the other hand, had no intention of playing him.
On June 20, the Nets shipped Timofey Mozgov and two second-round picks to the Hornets for Howard, and then renounced Dante Cunningham, Jahlil Okafor and James Webb III, according to RealGM. That was all done to get rid of Mozgov’s odious twoyear, $32.7 million deal. Basically, the Nets got Howard in 2018 to create cap space in 2019, when they could be the only team with $70 million to spend.
Howard already has a two-year, $11 million deal waiting in Washington according to ESPN, which gives the Nets at least a little leverage. Still, the former All-Star center — represented by Aaron Goodwin — has shown no inclination to give back anywhere near $8 million of his contract. He’s reportedly looking more in the $3 million range, or at most $5 million.
Still, how much the Nets — who have about $6.6 million in cap space — get back will likely steer their plans. It will impact whether they shop for free agents (likely of the bargain sort available later in the month) or can afford to take on a salary dump such as Denver’s Kenneth Faried in return for a pick or young talent.
Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler reportedly want to play together in the Eastern Conference in 2019. The Nets can have the most cap space next summer, with Indiana ($68 million) and Chicago ($63 million) the only others in the East even close.
➤ Marks insisted he’s not adamant about easing the point-guard glut, or dealing Jeremy Lin.
Marks said Lin has already been taking part in contact workouts.