It has been a long two years for everyone involved in the mess that was Dwight Howard becoming a free agent. But it has come to an end, for now, as he has signed a four year contract with the Houston Rockets.
This started two years ago when Howard had an opt-out clause in his contract with the Orlando Magic. There was speculation he would get traded to the Brooklyn Nets (at one point he even demanded a trade there), instead he shockingly opted into another year with the Magic.
Before last season Orlando traded Howard to the Lakers as part of a huge four team trade. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--lakers--magic-in-blockbuster-four-team-trade-talks-to-send-dwight-howard-to-l-a-.html
Howard, 27, was unhappy in his one year in Los Angeles, and made it quite clear he was going to leave in free agency. Like with everything involving Howard, the process wasn't smooth but he decided to join the Houston Rockets on a four year 88 million dollar deal. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/07/05/dwight-howard-houston-rockets-contract-decision-los-angeles-lakers/2492347/
Howard turned down an extra 30 million dollars by leaving the Lakers but this decision was far from a shock to most in the basketball world.
The Dwight Howard drama might over for now, but his new contract has an opt out clause after the 2015-16 season, which can allow him to be a free agent in just three more years.