Dwight Howard is going home. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year has agreed to a three-year, $70.5 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks.
Dwight Howard has reached agreement on a three-year, $70.5 million with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2016
Howard, who grew up in Georgia’s capital and was drafted out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, opted out of his contract with the Houston Rockets to become an unrestricted free agent for the second time in four years. Though many league analysts questioned his decision to leave just over $23 million on the table by forgoing the final year of his previous contract, this agreement ensures the 30-year-old will be paid approximately that amount for the next three seasons.
Is Howard with it? Despite the widespread criticism he’s faced over the past few years, Howard remains one of the league’s most impactful two-way centers. And considering the wholly ineffective Joakim Noah is on the verge of receiving an average $18 million salary from the New York Knicks, this deal seems fair given established going rate for traditional big men. On the other hand, paying Howard some $25 million as he enters his mid-30s isn’t exactly ideal, either, and that’s exactly what Atlanta will do considering all three years of this deal are fully guaranteed.
Dwight Howard's 3-year, $70.5 million deal is totally guaranteed with no option & about $7 million more than Hawks' 1st offer, source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 1, 2016
As for what Howard’s forthcoming acquisition means for Al Horford? It certainly doesn’t suggest that the Hawks’ long-time interior stalwart will be back with the franchise that drafted him in 2007. Atlanta will have to choose between trying to keep Horford and Kent Bazemore, though losing both players is perhaps the most likely outcome given Friday’s developments.
Stay tuned.
