'Excited' Dwight Howard confirms decision to join Rockets on Twitter
Dwight Howard (left) is officially heading to Houston. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)
Dwight Howard, one of the top free agent prizes in the class of 2013, confirmed Friday he will sign with the Rockets rather than re-sign with the Lakers.
"I've decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets," Howard wrote in a Twitter post. "I feel it's the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I'm looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best."
The free-agent negotiating period opened on Monday. Contracts can’t officially be signed until July 10.
Howard also changed his Twitter image to a picture of himself wearing a Rockets jersey.
Dwight Howard's new Twitter avatar. @DwightHoward
The official declaration came after a day of conflicting reports over Howard's future. The All-Star center escaped to Aspen, Colo., for the July 4 holiday to mull his future after holding free-agency meetings with the Rockets, Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks and Hawks earlier this week.
"Welcome to Houston, Dwight Howard," Rockets GM Daryl Morey wrote on Twitter. "Years of work by Dwight and Rockets went into this. This team is going to be special."
Exactly who will be on that team isn't yet clear. Howard is expected to team up with All-Star guard James Harden and small forward Chandler Parsons, while center Omer Asik and guard Jeremy Lin saw their names floating in trade rumors Friday.
