NBA: 5 Free Agents That Will Have The Biggest Impact Of Their New Teams

Dwight Howard, Atlanta Hawks

Dwight Howard’s basketball career has been an amazing roller coaster ride thus far.

1. Once in a lifetime prodigy, blessed with the perfect body imaginable. 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, 39” vertical, and a 7’4 wingspan.
2. “With the first pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select Dwight Howard!”  
3. Dwight posted a strong rookie campaign, but he lost the Rookie of the Year Award to Emeka Okafor.
4. Dwight’s next two seasons (06-07) were the launching point for his eventual success, and the result was an All-NBA 3rd team nod in ‘07.
5. ‘08 was Dwight’s breakout season, leading the league in blocks and earning an All-NBA First team selection and an All-Defensive Second team nod.
6. From there, Dwight’s dominance over the center position began. He won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards (09-11), and led the NBA in blocked shots twice. And, of course, in 2009 he led the Orlando Magic to the Finals, only to be eviscerated by the Lakers in five games.
7. So, after several frustrating seasons, Dwight reportedly asked management to fire coach Stan Van Gundy at the tail end of the 2012 season. Shortly afterwards, Dwight announced he would be missing the rest of the season due to back surgery.
8. During that offseason Dwight decided that his tenure in Orlando had run it’s course, and he would take the same step that all great big men eventually take – go to Los Angeles. Sadly, that didn’t pan out very well. Between Phil Jackson jumping ship, injury and a volatile relationship with Kobe – and Los Angeles was a disaster.
9. So after that debacle, Dwight decided to take his talents to Houston, to team up with James Harden.
10. Still, Dwight was never able to recapture his former glory. So after experiencing a slowly corroding relationship with Harden, firing Kevin McHale, repeated injury and dissatisfaction with his role, Dwight has decided to return to his hometown of Atlanta to play with the Hawks.

So, maybe Howard’s career has been less like a roller coaster and more like a stock market crash, plagued with injury and disappointment. Regardless, how will Dwight fit in with his new team?

Coach Budenholzer’s offense is identical to Popovich’s, stressing constant ball movement and shooting from the perimeter. So maybe Howard isn’t the best replacement for Horford. In fact, with an incredible post player like Paul Millsap, Howard is a horrible replacement.

Not only is he a liability at the free throw line, but he has no back-to-the-basket moves. Sure he can strengthen their interior defense, but beyond that what else can he contribute to the Hawks? And, that’s just from a basketball standpoint. Will he be able to coexist with Budenholzer, or will he ask for his job too? Can he form a lasting bond with his teammates, or will he be a problem in the locker room?

Not all impact has to be positive.

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