The Houston Rockets have reportedly "contacted teams" about dealing All-Star center Dwight Howard as the NBA trade deadline fast approaches.

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the development as the Rockets are said to be concerned about the 30-year-old, eight-time NBA All-Star's "plans to exercise an opt-out in his contract this summer to become an unrestricted free agent".

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With that in consideration, Houston allegedly feels "uncertain" about Howard's long-term commitment to the franchise, which has "pushed" Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to try and search for possible interested trade partners before next week's Feb. 18 deadline.

According to Wojnarowski, Houston is reportedly working with the 2004 NBA Draft first overall picks' agent, Dan Fegan, regarding the 6-foot-11 center's potential destinations for the rest of the season.

Howard is in the third year of his four-year, $87.6 million contract with the Rockets he signed before the 2013-2014 season upon choosing to exit the Los Angeles Lakers. He is set to earn $22.3 million this year, but has an opt-out contract in the summer and it is rumored that he will exercise such option to entertain offers from other squads.

The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year will stay in Houston and receive $23.3 million next season if he chooses not to exercise his player option this summer.

However, this summer is anticipated as a big-money offseason market as the league's salary cap for its teams is set to increase over the huge TV deal the NBA recently signed. This situation could lead to a lot of the league's superstars planning to test the free agent market in hopes of landing an even more lucrative contract moving forward.

Meanwhile, Bleacher Report noted that Howard and Fegan denied reports that the Rockets are currently shopping the five-time All-NBA First Teamer. The agent refuted the report that he had been working with Rockets officials to trade Howard.

"I'm not privy to what the Rockets are doing or not doing with respect to Dwight Howard," said Fegan.

"What I can say, with 100 percent certainty, is that Dwight has not and has never asked the Rockets for a trade. And neither have I," he added.

Meanwhile, Howard confirmed his agent's comments, saying that "I have not asked the Rockets to trade me. Nor have I talked about right trades. I want to win. I want this situation to work. I chose this team. And I'm not running because we have been faced with some adversity."

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, houston rockets, Dwight Howard, Daryl Morey, Rockets trade rumors