Dwight Howard will not be coming home after all.

Howard informed the Hawks Friday that he had eliminated Atlanta as a destination. General manager Danny Ferry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Howard delivered the news personally with a phone call. The unrestricted free agent center, from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, met with five teams earlier this week. The Mavericks and Warriors were also informed that they were out of the running.

That leaves the Lakers and the Rockets as the final two teams left in the Howard Sweepstakes. Several media outlets, including USA Today and Yahoo Sports, reported that Howard has picked the Rockets. According to the reports, Howard could make the announcement tonight or tomorrow morning.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sent an e-mail to several media outlets informing them his team is no longer in the running for Howard.

“Got word we are out of the DH sweepstakes. We gave it a shot and it didnt work out . It was truly an experience,” Cuban wrote.

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Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (right) reacts with her teammate, guard Rhyne Howard, after a basket during the second half of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the Indiana Fever at Gateway Center Arena on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Atlanta. 
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

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