The NBA trade deadline is just a couple of days away and Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets is one of the most talked-about names in the market right now. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Rockets are discussing a possible deal to send Howard to the Miami Heat for Hassan Whiteside and other players.

CBS Sports notes that Howard and Whiteside can't be traded straight up for each other because of the huge salary difference. Howard has a salary of more than $22 million while Whiteside only makes less than $1 million this season.

For the trade to happen, the Heat can add veterans like Chris Andersen, Luol Deng and Udonis Haslem to even out the salaries. But why would both teams would consider the trade?

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have had a very disappointing campaign as they currently hold the ninth spot in the Western Conference with a 27-28 record entering the second half of the season, per NBA.com. According to CBS Sports, the Rockets are dealing with chemistry issues this season and the trade of Howard could signal that they are ready to go to another direction.

NBC Sports reports that the Rockets management has told Howard that he might get traded at the trade deadline with the 30-year-old big man preferring the Heat or Atlanta Hawks as his destination. If Howard does not get traded, he is sure to opt out of his current deal and become a free agent.

In Whiteside, the Rockets are getting a 26-year-old defensive stalwart without any injury problems, unlike Howard. However, Whiteside is known to have attitude issues and it will not help Houston's ongoing chemistry problems.

Miami Heat

The Heat have always been linked to superstar names every offseason and trade deadline. Miami and Pat Riley are looking to get back to the postseason for the first time since LeBron James' departure. They currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 29-24 record, per NBA.com.

According to CBS Sports, Whiteside is about to become an unrestricted free agent and Miami do not have his full bird rights. Miami could potentially lose him this summer for nothing and add that to the uncertainty of Chris Bosh's health.

Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday that the team is concerned about Bosh's left calf because of blood clots, the same issue he had with his lungs last year that ended his season. A trade for Howard seems to be a backup plan for the Heat if Bosh is unable to play the rest of the season.