"Josh Howard is still hurt by his departure from Dallas, but he says he is feeling better about it.

"There's emotion, because I feel I could still be here, contributing with those guys," Howard told the Washington Post. "But now that I'm not here, I look at it as a fan."

Howard helped Dallas to its first NBA Finals trip in 2006, but a series of off-court mishaps and injuries led Dallas to trade him to the Washington Wizards in February 2010 for Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood.

"I think I moved past it," Howard said. "I learned from my mistakes. I can't really take back what was done. I just have to apologize to those I offended and keep going."

He still calls Dallas home, according to the Post, mostly to be around his three-year-old son, Bryson, who attends the same day care center as Jason Terry's youngest daughter. He feels comfortable and enjoys the cost of living."