Al Horford for Superman: Should the Hawks make that offer?
Switch the jerseys. Whaddaya think? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Dwight Howard has said he’ll opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Otis Smith, Orlando’s general manager, has said he won’t trade Howard and believes the NBA’s best center can be persuaded to re-up with the Magic. Other NBA clubs won’t sit around and wait. They’ll make offers for Howard.
Should the Hawks make an offer?
They could make a tantalizing one: Al Horford and Kirk Hinrich for Howard and power forward Ryan Anderson. That’s an All-NBA center (third team) with a Florida background who’s under contract through 2016 for a reasonable $12 million per season and a useful guard whose contract expires in 2012. The Magic could make something of that.
Or this: Josh Smith and Marvin Williams for the same two Magic men. That’s two starters — we’ll say for the sake of argument that Williams still qualifies — who are 25 years old and who are under contract through at least 2013. That’s not bad, either.
If you’re Otis Smith and you’re facing the possibility of losing your franchise player for nothing — the Magic lost Shaquille O’Neal to the Lakers the same way, the announcement coming in the Reebok tent in downtown Atlanta the day before the 1996 Olympics opened — you’d have to listen. Even if you’d rather not trade Howard to a team in your division, wouldn’t you have to listen?
For the Hawks, the trickiest part wouldn’t be the trade but the follow-through. Even if he changed teams, Howard’s contract wouldn’t change: He’d still be eligible to exit next summer. That possibility would be even more chilling for the Hawks than for the Magic. Orlando would lose only Howard; the Hawks would lose Howard plus Horford/Smith and Hinrich/Williams.
The Hawks would be leveraging their future on this question: Could we, in one season’s time, convince Howard that his hometown is the place for him to win his championship and this is the organization that will commit all necessary resources toward the betterment of the team?
We can accuse the Magic of many things, but we can’t say they haven’t spent. Owner Rich DeVos paid nearly $90 million for his roster this past season, an outlay that, according to Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel, put the Magic fifth in all of sports in average salary per man. The top four clubs: Real Madrid and Barcelona of Spanish soccer, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Magic have a new arena and played to 102.6 percent of capacity last season. The Hawks played to 83.6 percent of Philips Arena’s capacity, ranking 22nd among 30 NBA teams in average attendance. The Atlanta Spirit recently rid itself of the Thrashers, and money from the sale of the hockey club could mean that ownership might be willing to exceed the new luxury tax — it’s being debated in the NBA labor talks — to keep Howard.
Loading ...Howard is set to make $17 million next season. Whatever the new maximum number is, that’s what he’ll get. And if a team has Howard and Joe Johnson each making around $20 million — plus Horford/Smith at $12 or $13 million — you’ve put yourself in the Miami Heat class of salary imbalance. You’ve devoted three-fourths of your payroll to one-fifth of your roster.
Would Howard be worth such massive machinations? Yes. He has led the Magic to the NBA finals. He’s an offensive force, sure, and an even better defender and rebounder. But having Howard would require that the Hawks change their offense, which yielded little beyond jump shots last season, to a more post-oriented scheme. Could Is0-Joe co-exist with Superman? Would Josh Smith be given the freedom to roam on defense with an even bigger man behind him?
These are unknowns. What seems a given is that the Hawks as constituted aren’t any closer to the Eastern Conference finals, not with Derrick Rose in Chicago and Miami’s Big Three intact. (If Jamal Crawford leaves as a free agent, it might be Round 1 and done.) This trade would make the Hawks a real player in the East for the next 12 months, but it could turn into a one-year rental on the order of Mark Teixeira to the Braves with even worse ramifications.
But you out there who’ve clamored for the Hawks to be bold, to spend big (just not so big on Joe Johnson!) and to land a True Center above all … well, this would accomplish all of the above for at least a year. It would be daring, and general manager Rick Sund isn’t known for taking dares. But it would make the 2011-2012 Hawks worth watching, and it’d darn sure sell a few tickets.
By Mark Bradley
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190 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley has Lost His Mind
June 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
Bradley is just throwing stuff on the wall to see if it will stick. There is no way in the world the Hawks do this without a guarantee that Howard stays (which won’t/can’t happen.) This would be Texeira (which Bradley approves of) all over again.
Antoine Carr
June 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
I like it. Go for it
Jt
June 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Smith and Williams for Howard- yes I would even though at times Josh Smith is the best player on the floor in any game he plays. At other times, well . . . Horford for Smith? Hell no! Not only is Horford the most consistently good player on the floor, he has what none of the others have – the ability to do what it takes to win a championship. I know it was the NCAA tournament but all players at this level are talented. But to have the pedigree to turn that talent into a championship at any level separates players. Horford has shown it- not once, but twice. He is the only indespensible player on the Hawks in my opinion. You NEVER have to worry whether he is going to bring it. He brings it every night.
ANTHONY
June 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
I think we shoud wait another year when Dwight Howard becomes a free agent. Get a feel of what it would take to sign him and then clear some players out so that we could sign him to a long term contract. That’s the smart thing to do instead of rolling the dice a year early and potentially losing him.
shawn
June 21st, 2011
12:38 pm
Does Marvin Williams have any trade value? Nottttttttttttttt…………..
PMC
June 21st, 2011
12:41 pm
It’s never how much you spend in sports, it’s how well you spend it.
The Hawks and the Magic have spent money ridiculously poorly.
The Hawks have so much dead money it’s not even funny. Marvin Williams is worthless.
Lebrick
June 21st, 2011
12:47 pm
Really? 0% chance that Orlando would trade him to a team in the same division or conference. Now a JJ trade straight up for Boozer is more likely.
atlnative
June 21st, 2011
12:47 pm
The Al Horford Swap for Dwight Howard would be great for the Atlanta hawks.I have known Howard since he was a eighth grader at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy,and Dwight has wanted to play for the birds since the Atlanta Celtics.(his AAU team) Josh Smith,Randolph Morris,and Javaris Crittenton also played for the same AAU team.Howard would give the Hawks a low post presence.
Bull Doggy Dog
June 21st, 2011
12:47 pm
Bradley, Do you think it would be possible for the Hawks to get Joe Johnson and his agent to re-structure his contract, so we could be able to bring in somebody like Howard, and still keep our core nucleus of a team together?
Herschel Talker
June 21st, 2011
12:55 pm
MB:
Can we throw in Josh Smith and Marvin Williams to boot?
HT
Halsey
June 21st, 2011
12:58 pm
HELL YES! They should at least try, even if there’s a 1% chance of it actually happening.
pw
June 21st, 2011
12:58 pm
Dwight Howard will be a Laker.
UGA1999
June 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
YES YES YES YES
Davy Dmx
June 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
As enticing as this offer is I have to say no. Howard is a special talent that would instantly make us championship contenders but, I highly doubt The spineless Spirit group would make the deal.
kirkinga
June 21st, 2011
1:00 pm
Trade whoever is required in order to acquire Howard and then sign him. Since we are just amusing ourselves today, why not trade everybody and sign Howard and Paul, acquiring a draft pick or three along the way, and build us an exciting team.
Of course this begs the question as to whether or not the Sund/Drew tandem is up to the task? I don’t think any superstar will sign long-term here without faith in the Head Coach.I’d like to see us go get the other Van Gundy and let him decide who can help him build the team. I would not give him both jobs, however.
KSUAlum
June 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
To hell with the Hawks — until ASG sells them and leaves town. Then I’ll come back. But I’m not giving ASG any more of my money. Not after the Thrashers betrayal.
Reid Adair
June 21st, 2011
1:03 pm
Absolutely not.
ASG = JERKS
June 21st, 2011
1:03 pm
See my posting name. Let’s not support the Atlanta Hawks this year or ever. Anyway, I thought ASG was putting the Hawks up for sale.
Bill Campbell
June 21st, 2011
1:06 pm
Who cares? Hawks are and have always been Losers! Nothing will ever change!!
Duston
June 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
I thought the Hawks moved to Winniped too!! Well, atleast they should have. Hawks and ATL Spirit SUCK!!
Michael "Crocodile Tears" Gearon, Jr.
June 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
I’m so glad some of you idiots will still keep my pockets full. Sure, we’ll bring that championship to Atlanta. Any day now…
Dance, puppets, DANCE!!!
ASG = JERKS
June 21st, 2011
1:08 pm
Bruce Levison is the biggest jerk of them all. His cry baby partner is up there too but Bruce Levinson wins the prize. DEAL WITH IT.
Frank
June 21st, 2011
1:09 pm
You have to love on a day that almost every sports website has an story about the Hawks trading Josh Smith, that this hack writer comes up with this story. On top of that the Magic say they have no interest in trading Howard, and an offer of Horford and Hinrich hardly qualifies as a “tantalizing” one.
Keep pumping out your dribble Mark, I suppose you have to write double for the Hawks without the Thrash to badmouth anymore
chris
June 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
NO>>>>Horford is the most consistent and dependable player on the Hawks team. He is the closest thing to a leader they have and he is what you build around. Trade Josh Smith for Howard but not Horford
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
June 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
the ball boys would go insane trying to keep the floor dry from all the whining that howard and smith do every game.
jon
June 21st, 2011
1:15 pm
Mark, why is this so hard… THEY’RE NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THE ATLANTA HAWKS…. ITS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!
Michael "Crocodile Tears" Gearon, Jr.
June 21st, 2011
1:18 pm
HAWKS TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!
ENTER COUPON CODE “THRASH” FOR BIG SAVINGS!!!
ROD
June 21st, 2011
1:21 pm
YES, YES, YES!!!! They need someone of his caliber. Then they can have an inside and outside game with Joe Johnson. I’ve always said they should go after him. He doesn’t hate Atlanta, he only wants to win. Josh Smith should be part of the package, he’s not going to get better. Once again, YES, YES, YES!!!!! It would at least put the Hawks closer to the Bulls, Celtics, and even Miami.
Arvydis Sabonis
June 21st, 2011
1:23 pm
Anyone that says they wouldn’t take Dwight for a year is crazy. He would make us legit contenders and we’d be unstoppable if we could keep Josh too. The real question is, why would they trade Dwight for Horford and Hinrich? They’d never accept that. This lineup would be unbeatable and Atlanta could finally have a dynasty led by two hometown heroes. It would be too good to be true, Dwight in a Hawks jersey would be the greatest moment in the history of Atlanta sports. (But I still wouldn’t pay to see them or spend a dime that would go to the owenrs after what the ASG did to the Thrash)
But…
Jeff Teague — PG
Joe Johnson — SG
Marvin Williams (although I’d prefer he never played a minute of basketball again in his life) — SF
Josh Smith — PF
Dwight Howard — C
Are you kidding me?? That lineup would put us in title contention for the next 5 years.
TGT
June 21st, 2011
1:24 pm
I’m glad to see that Mark is finally on board with this. I pitched it in February:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/02/25/10-not-quite-random-thoughts-on-the-bibby-for-hinrich-deal/?cp=3#comment-391021
jmor
June 21st, 2011
1:25 pm
Any of those deals would be great but the Magic would never do it…Horford is not a true center because he is only 6′9 and has really not shown much in the playoffs. Howard would be great in Atlanta, but you could only get him through a sign and trade or if he agrees to a new contract. The Texiera trade shows what will happen if they don’t sign him. I agree that the Hawks don’t have the right assets to obtain Howard.
Brother Booker
June 21st, 2011
1:26 pm
I’m going let you hawk Fan in on a little know fact… Prior to Dwight being drafted by Orlando as a rookie. All he talked about was much he really wanted to play for the Hawks. He even went to Hawk management and betted them to trade up to draft him. But Orlando would bite. Dwight hated that he would be able to forfill his childhood dream and hated knowing he was going to the Magic. I watched Dwight and Josh play togather on their AAU term, The Atlanta Celtic. Man yall missed it. When Josh was drafted by the Hawks. He talked about he good they would have been together. For this reason I would not give up your hopes of seeing Dwight in a Hawks uniform.
Strnger things have happened
Harry "The Hawk"
June 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
Mark, exactly how many bottles of Jack Daniels do you think it will take to get this past
Otis Smith?
J A Weiss
June 21st, 2011
1:29 pm
Never will happen. Orlando will never move DH to a division rival, who just knocked them out in the first round. Love it for the Hawks sake, but it will never happen. Expect DH to pull a Shaq and sign with LA next summer.
steve brown
June 21st, 2011
1:29 pm
Boycott the Hawks until the “Spirit” less sell the team. The people of Atlanta need to speak loudly and clearly that the damage done through the loss of the Thrashers by these same owners must not be allowed to go unpunished-boycott them until their pain is as great as the most heart broken Thrasher fan.
ryan
June 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
This most likely wont happen because of Hawks ownership is in limbo and also the CBA coming up its nice dream about it though home town star .
Tyler McWebb
June 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
Give up Smoove and Marvin! Horford should be untouchable!!!
One Year Deal is a no go
June 21st, 2011
1:34 pm
No way should the Hawks give up this much for one year player, unless you think we will win a championship in one year, which is highly unlikely. With this deal we would get wooed into starting all over again rebuilding the team, a nightmare scenario. The last one was painful enough.
Michael "Crocodile Tears" Gearon, Jr.
June 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
Promise not to boycott the Hawks, and I’ll give you a sneak peek at the Atlanta Hawks Five-Year Plan. Hawks GM Rick Sund and new Hawks President Don Waddell say this team just has so much UPSIDE!!!
1-800-HAWKS-TIX
ACE
June 21st, 2011
1:36 pm
Howard is going to end up a Laker, mark my words.
Arvydis Sabonis
June 21st, 2011
1:37 pm
On another note, why does everyone keep saying that Dwight wouldn’t want to play in Atlanta because of our lousy history? If he came in and he and his boy Josh started winning, the past would be the past. What kid doesn’t dream of playing for their hometown team and winning championships? Dwight would be bigger in ATL than MJ in Chicago if he came up here and won some titles. Every night Phillips would be Freaknik, crowd fully packed, Hawks fans would start popping up all over the south. Dwight could turn around all the misfortune this city has had and change the mindset and the attitude and turn the Hawks into the Lakers of the East. Man what a day that would be.
(But I still would not pay a dime to see any of it so long as the ASG were the owners)
cpshon 21
June 21st, 2011
1:38 pm
What about free agency . Get Nene’ and J.R. Smith in free agency.
starting lineup PG Teague/Hinrich SG Johnson/Smith SF Smith/Williams PF Horford/Pachuilla C Nene’/Collins or Armstrong or pick up a player?????
T
June 21st, 2011
1:38 pm
Please get him… I will attend every hawks game just to see him.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
Obviously you would need Dwight to agree to sign an extension to make such a trade, like NY did with Carmelo Anthony. But if he will sign, either one of those trades is a no-brainer. If you can get Dwight and only give up one core player, that would be a major victory.
That said, I don’t think Orlando will go for such a trade. Based on Orlando’s salary situation, the Hawks’ lack of assets, and Dwight’s preexisting friendship with Smoove, I think Joe+Al for Dwight+Arenas is the most likely way for the Hawks to trade for Dwight and get him to sign an extension. And yes, I think that trade would make the Hawks better in both the short term and the long term.
HawkKingBibby
June 21st, 2011
1:41 pm
Trade Horford for Howard Yesterday. I think Dwight hates ZaZa though so he may have to be moved.
MannyT
June 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
Messy part is the new CBA. Hard cap means leave Howard alone. Cannot put pieces around him so he would leave. Soft cap means you can build, so you can trade away major pieces to get it done. You will also have to include some draft picks.
But come on…would Otis Smith trade him within the division? That would put salt in the wound every time he came to town. Hawks offer would have to be much better than all others to get Howard.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
“If Jamal Crawford leaves as a free agent, it might be Round 1 and done.”
Not if Teague — a better defender and more willing passer — plays the majority of those minutes with the remainder being played by a free agent signee who can also play D. There’s a very good chance Jamal’s departure improves the Hawks simply by virtue of opening up playing time for Teague.
Marcus
June 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
if somehow we could get Luc M-B-M and/or Tayshawn Prince on the cheap in FA …. and prod M. Williams to venture to another NBA locale …….
The Real GSU plays in Statesboro
June 21st, 2011
1:53 pm
Sign me up!!!!! Hortford for Howard. Lets make it happen. Howard is probally the only person in the world who could convenice Josh Smith to stay near the paint.
cdog
June 21st, 2011
1:57 pm
wow! make that deal without hesistations.i would forgive rick sund for all of the blundering moves he has made if he could bring howard to the hawks.this deal doesn’t have to be given thoughts.horford couldn’t carry howard’s jock strap nor his weight.if sun can keep josh smith and bring in howard, the hawks would suddenly become championship contenders in the finals.