Report: Houston Rockets discussing trading Dwight Howard at deadline

The Rockets are reportedly shopping Dwight Howard to other teams ahead of the trade deadline.

The Houston Rockets have initiated trade conversations with other teams regarding center Dwight Howard ahead of the Feb. 18 trade deadline, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

The team is working with Howard’s agent Dan Fegan to make a deal happen, according to the report.

The eight-time NBA All-Star is expected to hit the free agent market this summer by exercising an opt-out clause in his contract. Howard would likely seek a maximum contract from potential suitors.

• MAHONEY: NBA trade deadline preview—Who is the likeliest to move?

Howard is averaging 14.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game so far this season.

Howard is in his third year with the Rockets after one season with the Los Angeles Lakers and eight years with the Orlando Magic.

Photos: See classic shots of Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard Through the Years

Dwight Howard

Courtesy of the Howard Family

1986

Dwight Howard

Courtesy of the Howard Family

circa 1996

Dwight Howard

Damian Strohmeyer

July 11, 2003 — Adidas ABCD Camp

Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, and Randolph Morris

Robert Beck

July 27, 2003 — AAU Basketball

Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah

Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images

March 24, 2004 — EA Sports Roundball Classic

Dwight Howard

Clay Patrick McBride

June 8, 2004

Dwight Howard

Clay Patrick McBride

June 8, 2004

Candace Parker and Dwight Howard

Mark Mainz/Getty Images

July 14, 2004 — ESPY Awards

Dwight Howard

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Aug. 2, 2004

Dwight Howard

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

Aug. 2, 2004

Dwight Howard

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

Aug. 2, 2004

Dwight Howard and Grant Hill

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Feb. 17, 2005

Dwight Howard

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Oct. 5, 2005

Dwight Howard

Bill Frakes

Nov. 29, 2005

Dwight Howard

Bill Frakes

Nov. 29, 2005

Dwight Howard

Bill Frakes

Nov. 29, 2005

Dwight Howard

Bill Frakes

Nov. 29, 2005

Dwight Howard

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Dec. 8, 2005

Dwight Howard

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Dec. 8, 2005

Dwight Howard and Brian Hill

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Dec. 8, 2005

Dwight Howard

NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

May 25, 2006

Patrick Ewing and Dwight Howard

John Biever

Nov. 23, 2007

Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson

John Raoux/AP

Sept. 29, 2008

Dwight Howard

Walter Iooss Jr

March 4, 2009

Dwight Howard

Walter Iooss Jr

March 4, 2009

Dwight Howard and Venus Williams

Jeff Vinnick/EA via Getty Images

July 11, 2009 — EA Sports King of the Court competition

Venus Williams and Dwight Howard

Jeff Vinnick/EA via Getty Images

July 11, 2009 — EA Sports King of the Court competition

Dwight Howard

Heinz Kluetmeier

Aug. 13, 2009

Dwight Howard

Chen He/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Aug. 25, 2009

Kevin Love, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse and Dwight Howard

Dean Hendler/Disney Channel via Getty Images

July 2, 2010 — "The Suite Life on Deck" episode

Dwight Howard

Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images

June 20, 2011 — 'El Hormiguero' TV show

Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant

Greg Nelson

Feb. 26, 2012 — NBA All-Star Game

Steve Nash and Dwight Howard

Peter Read Miller

Oct. 9, 2012

Dwight Howard

John W. McDonough

Feb. 14, 2013

Jay-Z and Dwight Howard

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Feb. 17, 2013 — NBA All-Star Game

Dwight Howard and Wu Jingyu

ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Aug. 25, 2013

Dwight Howard, Jake Short, Paris Berelc and Bradley Steven Perry

Eric McCandless/Disney XD via Getty Images

Aug. 29, 2013 — "Mighty Med" episode

Dwight Howard and Robert Covington

Rick Kern/Getty Images for Iconix Brand

Oct. 26, 2013 — Chandler Parson's 25th Birthday

Dwight Howard and Ludacris

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Aug. 28, 2014 — Bowling For A Cause

Dwight Howard and Laura Govan

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Aug. 31, 2014 — LUDA vs YMCMB celebrity basketball game

Thomas Lennon, Dwight Howard and Matthew Perry

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Sept. 9, 2014 — "The Odd Couple" episode

Dwight Howard

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Sept. 29, 2014 — Houston Rockets Media Day

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dwight Howard

Noel Vasquez/GC Images

Oct. 28, 2014

Dwight Howard

Maarten de Boer/Getty Images Portrait

July 10, 2015 — Comic-Con International

Dwight Howard

ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Sept. 11, 2015

Dwight Howard

David J. Phillip/AP

Sept. 28, 2015

Dwight Howard

David J. Phillip/AP

Sept. 28, 2015

Dwight Howard and James Harden

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Oct. 3, 2015 — UFC 192: Eye v Pena

Denzel Washington and Dwight Howard

Noel Vasquez/GC Images

Dec. 17, 2015

Dwight Howard

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Sept. 26, 2016

The Rockets are 27–28 heading into the All-Star Break.