The Atlanta Hawks are looking to make a move ahead of the NBA trade deadline and there is one player that they should try to acquire. Dwight Howard from the Houston Rockets would be a perfect fit for the Hawks and it would give him a fresh start in his home city.
Howard is desperately searching for another team to pick him up and play him the way that he needs to play to succeed. Houston simply hasn't been able to offer him that and there are obvious chemistry issues there. Trading Howard isn't necessarily what the Rockets "want" to do, but it is what they know that they need to do at this point in time.
Rumors have been flying out of Atlanta that the Hawks are open to trading both Al Horford and Jeff Teague. Whether those rumors or true or not is another question, but it sets up an intriguing trade possibility.
It isn't likely that the Hawks would be willing to give up both Horford and Teague for Howard, but adding Horford in would make the Rockets think about the deal. They would be getting an excellent replacement for Howard and a player who would fit better into their system. Houston might very well pull the trigger on a deal with the Hawks' trade package sending Howard their way primarily.
Why should the Hawks acquire Howard and consider moving one of their current core pieces?
Quite simply, Howard's game would give head coach Mike Budenholzer so many different options. He could play inside out basketball much more effectively. Throwing the basketball down to Howard in the post and then getting the deadly shooters that the Hawks wide open could be a nightmare for opposing teams to defend against.
Throughout the course of the 2015-16 NBA season, Howard has averaged 14.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Atlanta's defense would improve a bit, although their free-throw shooting would drop drastically.
At 30 years old, Howard still has plenty left in the tank to help Atlanta. Playing in his home city might be exactly what he needs to feel rejuvenated and get himself back to playing like a superstar.
One thing that could turn the Hawks off to the idea of acquiring Howard is that he only has one year left on his deal following this season. Perhaps they would feel comfortable with their chances of bringing him back to go ahead and pull the trigger. That being said, it is something to keep an eye on.
What do you think about the Hawks acquiring Howard? Do you think he would be a good fit back in his home city? Let us know in the comment box.
While you're at it, enjoy watching a recent dominant performance from Howard against the Portland Trail Blazers.
