NBA Trade and Free Agency Rumors 2013: Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard Sends "Hopeful Signs" Of Joining James Harden, Jeremy Lin On Houston Rockets

The second version of the Dwight Howard saga is about a month away from officially starting with the July 1 NBA free agency kickoff looming, but the buzz is already beginning to spread that maybe-just maybe-the Los Angeles Lakers' dominant center might take his talents to Houston.

The Lakers are desperately hoping to lock up Howard, whom they traded for in a blockbuster deal last summer, for a long-term contract, but there will be teams hoping to wrest the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time NBA All-Star from L.A.

The Lakers biggest threat? The Houston Rockets, who have enough space and a young, talented team that they hope could entice Howard to switch his West Coast scenery to something a little more Southern.

ESPN.com reports that sources close to the situation are indicating that the Rockets are receiving what were deemed as "hopeful signals" that arguably the most dominant center in the NBA is seriously considering heading to Houston in free agency this summer.

In addition, Howard has made his intentions known that he will be visiting both Houston and the Dallas Mavericks, another team that has a strong possibility of landing him, and listen to their recruiting pitches.

While only the Lakers can offer Howard a max deal of five years and $120 million, Howard, in the prime of his NBA career, might be seeking a ring now and could be looking for greener pastures after dealing with an aging, underachieving Lakers squad that struggled this past season as well as trading barbs in the headlines with Lakers star and teammate Kobe Bryant.

Dallas has been looking to rebuild since 2011, having let Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry, Jason Terry and other key pieces of their 2010-11 NBA title-winning team. Houston started the process last year with an aggressive offseason that landed James Harden, Jeremy Lin, and Omer Asik for the team, and they raised eyebrows in the playoffs when they pushed the heavily-favored Oklahoma City Thunder to six games in the first round before losing the series, 4-2.

To make room for Howard's salary, the Rockets are said to be shopping No.5 draft pick Thomas Robinson to other teams, with reports coming in that Robinson has been offered up by Rockets GM Daryl Morey.