Roundtable Discussion: The Signing of Dwight Howard
As our summer roundtables progress here at SDS, we visit the signing of Dwight Howard this summer.
One of the offseason moves that made headlines this summer wast the Atlanta Hawks signing Dwight Howard. Howard has become a player that is known for having ‘baggage’ along with his great ability.
His fit with the Hawks is still in question, and those questions cannot be answered until the product is shown on the floor.
One thing is for certain: Howard brings a different feel to this team. Finally, there is a dominant rim-protector back in Atlanta that can impact a game significantly on both ends of the floor.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer will hold the responsibility of making this whole thing work. He’s known for being one of the smartest coaches in the league, so the chance that it becomes a success is high.
Here’s what he crew at Soaring Down South makes of the move:
Colby Giacubeno: Although most people were looking at this singing very pessimistically, I liked this signing. The only complaint I had was that it was a quick pull of the trigger, but after taking a step back and analyzing the situation, the Hawks needed a change. Al Horford is a great player, but the formula they were using year in and year out obviously hadn’t been enough. The shake-up for next season is going to be interesting to watch unfold. In my opinion, it could go really well, or really bad. My faith is in coach Budenholzer. I think he can take this new dynamic that Howard brings and make it into a complete success.
More from Soaring Down South
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
Collin Huguley: I’ve been on the Dwight-to-Atlanta bandwagon since May. Since Dwight shunned the Hawks in his last free agent experience, the franchise has become stable and has a terrific system. The flow of Atlanta’s offense and stifling defense allows Dwight to have steady, reliable pieces around him. He also brings the physical interior force that the Hawks haven’t had since Mutombo. I think this is a match made in heaven and that Dwight will make the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season (Bold Prediction Alert!). Not to mention that he has (by far) the most lethal frontcourt partner of his career in Millsap.
Tom Atkinson: If taken without considering anything else, recruiting Dwight Howard seems like a great decision. A player with a superstar past and, arguably, the potential to return there, D12 (or should it be D8) offers Atlanta the interior presence it never had with Al Horford at the five. He will pull down a whole lot of rebounds and improve the team’s blocking. His fit might seem strange at first, but the team should adapt and so should he. And, regardless of that, it is a great move in that Howard’s name-power should excite the fan-base of a team who never has the allure to bring in superstars in free agency.
Rakshan Robertson: Signing Dwight Howard was a great decision for many reasons, but the biggest one is simply the fact that the team cannot have Al Horford at center. For Atlanta, change was really the only option. Howard’s potential to put up a 22 and 14 season when healthy is scary for opposing teams to think about. Also, he is well known and stars want to play with him. After failing to build chemistry in L.A, Howard finally realized that he needs to embrace the beta-dog role. This by itself makes him a better player. The city of Atlanta should be exited. Superman is home.
Nile Goodwyn: Dwight Howard, even coming into his 12th season, is arguably the best center in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks a game for the Rockets, who didn’t even want him there. Coming home to Atlanta, Howard will help shore up the Hawks rebounding woes, and lock the paint down. He will be staple in everything the Hawks do, both on and off the court. Expect numbers similar to his Orlando years, with shooters surrounding him at every position.