Dwight Howard expected to reach buyout with Brooklyn Nets, become free agent

Just one day after being traded from the Charlotte Hornets, Dwight Howard is expected to reach a buyout agreement with the Brooklyn Nets, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the news wasn’t made public.

Howard, an eight-time All-Star, would then be in the free agent market after averaging 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds this past season with the Hornets. It was Howard’s most productive season of the last four years.

“I want to be in a situation where I have an opportunity to help a team win,” Howard told ESPN, which first reported the news. “That’s my only goal. All I need is a real chance and a clean slate where it’s not people talking about my past."

Howard, owed $23.8 million this season entering the final year of his contract, was traded Wednesday for Timofey Mozgov and two second-round picks.

“I was just really in total shock because I wasn’t expected it to happen,” he said to ESPN. “I thought this season was really good. For one, this is the healthiest I’ve been, and two, my stats this season has been one of the best since I’ve been in the NBA."