Dwight Howard wanted to join Milwaukee Bucks

MILWAUKEE, March 1 (UPI) -- During Monday's Bucks and Rockets game, Milwaukee announcer Gus Johnson let fans know about an inside scoop related to Houston big-man Dwight Howard.

During the broadcast, Johnson said Howard "wanted to come to Milwaukee during the trade deadline."

"I said, 'I feel you're underappreciated.' He said, 'Yeah, probably, but listen, I wanted to come to Milwaukee during the trade deadline," Johnson said on the broadcast. "I would've come, but they wanted me to sign an extension.' And I said, 'Well, they couldn't sign you to half a season.' He said, 'You never know. I like Milwaukee.'"

Much has been made relating to the feud between Rockets superstar James Harden and Howard, which each allegedly vying for the other to be traded.

Howard, however, did not want to agree to an extension with the Bucks, who would have lost Howard to free agency after the season, had a trade occurred.

CBS Sports' Zach Harper said the deal "was on the table."

"The inability to get Howard to commit to his player option next season ended up killing the deal, and Howard stayed on a seemingly dysfunctional Rockets team that has reportedly dealt with James Harden and Howard trying to get the other off the team," Harper wrote.

Howard, 30, is averaging 14.9 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game this season. He has made $144,726,223 in NBA salary since 2004. Howard is due more than $22.3 million this season and has a player option of more than $23.2 million next season.

The Bucks beat the Rockets 128-121 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Howard scored 30 points and had 13 rebounds in 35 minutes.