Rumors have emerged that the Dallas Mavericks are targeting Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard this summer but main man Dirk Nowitzki disapproves of such a move.

Howard, who is expected to opt out of the last season of his contract with the Rockets this July, remains to be the top target of the Mavericks as he allegedly had been what Dallas is looking for in a center, according to the Star-Telegram.

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The report also mentioned that the 30-year-old, eight-time NBA All-Star constantly attracts double team coverages in the post, which would allow veteran stretch four Nowitzki "to hang out on the perimeter and basically enjoy target practice during the twilight of his career", making him the ideal slot man for Mark Cuban's team.

However, in his radio show on KESN-FM 103.3 ESPN Radio, Dallas News' Matt Mosley revealed that Nowitzki doesn't want Howard to join the Mavericks as the German believes that the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is no longer the player he used to be.

Nowitzki is said to be more agreeable if the team snags Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside instead, who he thinks can better help the Mavs moving forward instead of the declining Howard.

Several NBA analysts also agree with the 7-foot former NBA MVP and Finals MVP, saying that it just but proper for Cuban and the Mavs to consider Nowitzki's recruitment suggestions because of what he has accomplished for the franchise and also because he is coming to the end of his career.

Furthermore, Howard's reputation of being unruly and discontented in whatever NBA team he is playing with should be a warning for Dallas not to experiment on the big man as he enters the late stages of his career.

Another reason why a Howard-to-Mavs deal might fall through is the center's price tag, which is expected to reach the max level. It is not readily known if Dallas is willing to give Howard a maximum level salary and also if Howard will accept anything less than that to decide to join them.

TagsNBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Dallas Mavericks, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki