ESPN's Jalen Rose: Dwight Howard Will Be Playing With The Houston Rockets Next Season [Watch Video]

ESPN's Jalen Rose is confident that the Houston Rockets will be the next destination for incoming free-agent center Dwight Howard, the basketball analyst said during his show in Grantland.

Rose, who served as an analyst for ESPN and has a sports show in Bill Simon's website Grantland, said he thinks Howard is going to end up in Houston to team up with James Harden and the up-and-coming Rockets next season.

The former NBA veteran added that he doesn't believe Kobe Bryant, contrary to recent reports that the All-Star shooting guard is going to push the Lakers to re-sign Howard, will put extra effort to 'recruit' the All-NBA center back with the purple-and-gold.

Howard, who averaged 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his first season with the Lakers, will be the top prize for this offseason's free-agent bonanza.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak already said he's hopeful that Howard will eventually re-sign, but the center's severed relationship with head coach Mike D'Antoni could be a factor to his possible departure.

The Houston Rockets emerged as an attractive destination for the 6-foot-10 Howard due to the team's massive salary cap space and a promising nucleus of young and talented players.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are coming off their worst season since winning back-to-back title under Phil Jackson. After a campaign of ups and downs, the Lakers managed to reach the playoffs but with a great price as Bryant suffered a torn Achilles Heel in the final weeks before the postseason.

Playing without their primary scorer, the Lakers were overwhelmed by the San Antonio Spurs in four games, casting a dark cloud on the future of the franchise.