The Brooklyn Nets just completed a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for center Dwight Howard on Wednesday morning, and a day later, it looks like Howard is already on the way out. According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, Howard and the Nets are set to negotiate on the buyout, and center is expected to hit free agency.

Howard says the decision to negotiate a buyout is sparked by his wanting to win an NBA Championship while he's still in the tail end of the prime of his career at 30 years of age.

“I want to be in a situation where I have an opportunity to help a team win,” Howard said during a phone interview. “That's my only goal. All I need is a real chance and a clean slate where it's not people talking about my past.”

Howard saw a bit of a resurgence this year under head coach Steve Clifford, averaging 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game in 81 appearances this season for the Hornets. His biggest game came late in the season, ironically, against the Brooklyn Nets, Howard put up a 32-point, 30-rebound.

Ultimately, it was a surprise for Howard, but one that he's not letting stop his goal.

“I was just really in total shock because I wasn't expecting it to happen,” he said. “I thought this season was really good. For one, this is the healthiest I've been and two, my stats this season has been one of the best since I've been in the NBA.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Howard said. “I'm not going to allow this to distract me from what my goal is, which is to continue to get better as a player.”

Howard will now enter a free agent market where a lot of money isn't available with most teams preparing for the big free agent class the summer of 2019. It'll be interesting to see which contender he joins next season because he's proven he still has a lot of game left.