The rumors about Dwight being interested in playing for his hometown have been swirling since last year’s trade deadline. Dwight expressed interest in playing for Atlanta for the first time in his career, and it was clear the Hawks had him on the top of their list of free agents from the beginning. Howard was reportedly being interviewed by several other teams such as the Celtics and Blazers, but after Atlanta made their pitch it seemed Howard’s decision was made.
According to the Vertical the Hawks have agreed upon a 3-year deal worth $70.5 million.
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
This is the first move Atlanta has made this free agency and they started it off with a bang. Howard immediately fills some major needs for the Hawks. His ability to single-handedly protect the rim and grab rebounds makes him a perfect fit in Atlanta. The question remains if Atlanta will also be looking to re-sign Al Horford now that Howard has signed. Horford is being pursued by nearly every team in the league, but Atlanta does have a chance to re-sign him due to his bird rights. There are still a lot of questions to be answered, but for now welcome home Dwight!