Soaring Down South
Fansided

Grading The Atlanta Hawks Offseason Moves

By Colby Giacubeno

Dec 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) moves the ball over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) moves the ball over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
dwight-howard
dwight-howard /

The Return of the Hometown Star

As day one of free agency progressed into the evening, there was still uncertainty of whether or the the Hawks could retain Al Horford. Horford was being pursued by multiple teams and was also showing intent to listen instead of immediately working out a deal with the Hawks.

It could be labeled as a move of panic, but the Hawks went ahead and agreed to a three-year deal worth $70 million with center Dwight Howard. Atlanta and Howard have been connected the past two time that he was an unrestricted free agent, but could come to an agreement.

Howard has built a reputation as being a nuisance in the locker room of the past two teams he has played for. It has seemed that no matter where he goes, by mid-season he starts claiming that he is unhappy with his current situation and creates friction between himself and the organization.

More from Soaring Down South

Howard coming to Atlanta offers a different situation than he is used to. For one, Atlanta is his hometown. Howard will feel the need to bring success back to the place where he grew up. Two, Atlanta is a well-run organization with an elite head coach in Mike Budenholzer. Three, this may be Howard’s last chance to repair his reputation. He has claimed many of time that he isn’t the person that fans try and make him out to be. Well, this will be his best chance to prove those critics wrong.

After the dust had settled with agreeing to a deal with Howard, the Hawks still showed interest in bringing back Horford. Horford would demand a max-deal, so moving some pieces to create cap space would be necessary. There were talks that they were trying to trade forward Paul Millsap to the Phoenix Suns for future draft picks, but those talks eventually died and so did the ones that included bringing back Horford.

Reports surfaced that Horford didn’t want to play with Howard and that he felt it was time to move on from Atlanta. So he did by agreeing to a deal with the Boston Celtics, a division rival of the Hawks.

In the end, the Hawks got a big man who has all the tools to once again become a dominant presence in the paint on both sides of the floor. Howard pairing with Millsap makes up one of the top frontcourts in the NBA and will give Dennis Schroder the resources he needs as he steps into the starting role.

Final Grade: A

Next: Priority No. 1