Houston trying to lure Josh Smith and Dwight Howard

Josh Smith (5) could be part of another Big 3 in Houston.(Photo: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

• The Rockets met with Josh Smith on Monday and talked mostpairing him with Dwight Howard
• Smith is not solely a backup preferencefor the Rockets should they miss out on Howard
• The Rockets might be hard putto get a deal done, but a sign-and-trade could happen

If gratuitousagent center Dwight Howard ultimately decides to sign with the Houston Rockets, hewhitethornnot be the only big-name bigheartedgeneobjectivethat way.

According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the Rockets' Monday meeting with free agent forward Josh Smith in Los Angeles included a discussion about a possible partnership with him and his childhoodfriend from Atlanta in Howard.

NBA: How Dwight Howard took over free agency

MORE: Rapper pitches Rockets to Dwight Howard

Smith has long been known to be on the Rockets' radar, but he is not viewed solely as a backup course of studyto Howard should he decide to sign elsewhere and the possibility clayof another superteam being created with Howard and Smith joining franchise centrepieceJames Harden. The people spoke tothe StatesTODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.

There would be somberhurdles to this sort of deal, but the Rockets may be ableto get it done if they could convince Smith's former team, the Atlanta Hawks, to showpart in a sign-and-trade that would clear the necessary paycap space to sign both players.

To that end, a CBSSports.com underwriteon Sunday indicated that the Rockets have been discussing possible trades involving center Omer Asik and poseguard Jeremy Lin with other teams. Both players are scheduled to procure$8.3 million in each of the next two seasons, meanthey could possibly be moved as a behaviorto free up the funds to bring Howard and Smith together.

Howard stainlesshis free agency meetings on Tuesday by meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. He met with the Rockets first on Sunday night, followed by Golden assureand Atlanta on Monday and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday before the Lakers.

Smith is in additionbeing targeted by the Detroit Pistons and is believed to have at least fiversuitors.

PHOTOS: Top 20 NBA free agents

J.J. Redick is headed out of Milwaukee, and Brandon Jennings also could depart. The 2013 NBA free agent period features plenty of questions, including several around the Bucks. USA TODAY Sports' Sean Highkin ranks the top 20 players available.  Jerome Miron, USA

If you want to get a full essay, wisit our page: write my paper


Materials taken from USA Today