Houston Rockets trade rumors 2016: who will replace Dwight Howard as new star center?

NBA.com

The Houston Rockets currently has a big hole to fill in their team. They have yet to find a replacement for their star centre Dwight Howard, who recently signed a deal with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent.

With this crucial defence vacuum, Space City Scoop pitched an "ideal target" for the Houston Rockets: Sacramento Kings All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.

According to the website, Cousins seems ready to leave the Kings. Although he is considered by many as the NBA's top centre at present, the basketball player could not quite get a major break. He has failed to help the Kings' 10-year postseason drought.

A factor may be the frequent change of leadership around Cousins: Since 2010, he has already worked with six different coaches—or a new coach every year. The Kings' management also was not able to surround him with other good players to help him buoy the team to the top.

Cousins has nevertheless helped the U.S. team win the gold in the 2014 World Cup in Spain—a testament that he is still a valuable asset who can be tapped by the Houston Rockets.

If the Houston Rockets management indeed succeeds in bringing Cousins to the team, the star centre can work with or can be a good substitute to centre-power forward Clint Capela.

Cousins can also work well with Nene, the Rockets' off-season centre-power forward. The Brazilian basketball player's performance, which has been downhill for the past years, sure can get some boost from the new recruit.

To be able to acquire Cousins, the Houston Rockets may let go of Capela, guard KJ Daniels, veteran shooting guard and small forward Corey Brewer, and forward Sam Dekker.

Cousins could bring the Houston Rockets to new heights in the upcoming season after the team was dismally eliminated during the first round of the playoffs last season.