NBA Report: Houston Rockets Add Chris Paul To Free Agency 2013 Wishlist

The Houston Rockets are really planning to make a big offseason splash as they try to pursue Chris Paul and Dwight Howard when these two high-profile free-agents hits the market, a source close to situation reported on Monday.

According to the latest report by the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets have added Paul to its free-agent wish list aside from their interest in signing Howard for a max-deal.

The Rockets, who are coming off their first playoff appearance after a three-year absence, have become an ideal destination for top free-agents mainly because of its spacious salary room and a young nucleolus of talents led by All-Star shooting guard James Harden and budding star Chandler Parsons.

Sources added that Houston considers the All-NBA point guard as their top alternative if they failed to hammer a deal with Howard.

Paul averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 assists to lead the Clippers to their best regular-season finish in franchise history last season. However, the Clippers' first-round exit at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies and a reported squabble with the team management cast a dark cloud on Paul's future with the Clippers.

Howard, on the other hand, is undoubtedly the top free-agent player this offseason after spending a year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Howard produced 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.45 blocks per ball game for the purple-and-gold, but the perennial All-Star center's severed relationship with head coach Mike D'Antoni could be a big factor for him to play for another team next season.

Aside from the Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks have also shown interest in signing both superstars when the free-agency market officially opens on July 1.