Dwight Howard has been traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Atlanta Hawks have dealt center Dwight Howard and the #31 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to the Charlotte Hornets.
In exchange, the Hawks receive center Miles Plumlee, shooting guard Marco Belinelli and the #41 pick in the 2017 draft.
This is the first move made by new Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk.
Clearly looking to rebuild, the Hawks shed the three-year, $70.5 million dollar contract that Howard signed with his hometown team last summer.
Howard has two years left of his deal and will make $23.5M next season then $23.8M the following season.
While he put together a decent season, averaging 13.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in nearly 30 minutes a night, Howard does appear to be solidly on the downside of his career at this point.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford certainly knows what he’s getting as he worked with Howard while an assistant with both the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.
Belinelli, who averaged 10.5 points a game for the Hornets last season while shooting 36% from 3-point range, will make $6.6M and then hit free agency next summer. Plumlee, who averaged just 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds last year, is under contract through the 2019-2020 season, making $12.5M in each of the next three years.
