What’s Next?
After a seemingly drama-free first season in Atlanta, Howard appears to be unhappy with his role again.
But nonetheless, Howard is under contract for two more seasons and it would be surprising to see the Hawks deal him after just one year. Howard did bring some value to the team and helps the team in several ways.
At age 31, Howard is not that old and should be serviceable for the remainder of his contract. And with the problems he has had in the past with management of whatever team he is on, it seems that he would be a difficult player to trade.
Moving forward, the Hawks just need to do with Howard what they did for much of the season. They should play him around 28-30 minutes per game and take him out if the matchup is detrimental to the team.
Howard was not nearly as bad as the playoff series indicates and he is a player that just needs to play within his role. If he can be used as a big body in the paint, he can be an efficient big man in this league. But if the Hawks try to press him too much, there could be trouble.
Next: Atlanta Hawks 2016-2017 Season Review: Tim Hardaway Jr.
And of course, the team must figure out Howard’s complaints about his role. Because his willingness to accept a role is what his effectiveness hinges on.