NBA Free Agent Rumors: Rockets pursuing Josh Smith to pair with Dwight Howard

The Houston Rockets are pursuing sign and trade scenarios with the Atlanta Hawks for free agent forward Josh Smith in the event that Dwight Howard signs in Houston according to CBSSports' Ken Berger.

League sources told CBSSports.com on Tuesday night that the Rockets acted quickly on Howard's desire to bring another star to Houston with him and have begun their pursuit of Smith, the Hawks' free-agent forward and Howard's former AAU teammate in Atlanta, in a sign-and-trade arrangement.

A potential sign and trade deal involving Smith and the Rockets' Omer Asik has previously been discussed but the deal seems contingent on Howard signing in Houston. If Howard decided to go elsewhere then the Rockets could keep Asik and sign Smith outright.

The Hawks and Rockets along with Josh Smith that are likely to be in a holding pattern until Howard makes his decision on where he will be next season public.