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NBA Trade Grades: Hornets acquire Dwight Howard from Hawks

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 20, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) in a time out during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) in a time out during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Grades
Mar 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) reacts after being called for a foul against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Charlotte Hornets

Say what you want about Dwight Howard, but this is a pretty great deal for the Charlotte Hornets, who needed to improve after a disappointing 36-46 season but didn’t really have the means to do so in free agency or on the trade market.

Yet somehow, they were able to turn Plumlee’s horrible deal and an aging veteran who shot 42.9 percent from the field last season into (an admittedly declining) Dwight Howard.

That being said, his past experience with Hornets head coach Steve Clifford on both the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers could lead to a late-career Renaissance for D-12’s game.

Though Howard still has two years and $47.3 million remaining on his deal, a core of Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky needed more help. That wasn’t going to happen in free agency, so turning two unnecessary assets into a defensive anchor is a great move.

As The Vertical‘s Bobby Marks points out, the team will enjoy some cap relief in 2019-20. This team is too good to blow it up and tank, but not good enough to seriously contend.

For a team trapped in the middle that could do with a return to the excitement of playoff basketball, even during the Golden State Warriors’ and Cleveland Cavaliers’ reign, there are worse ways to spend the short-term than trying to revive Howard’s career.

Throw in the fact that the Hornets moved up 10 spots in this year’s draft, where there will be plenty of talented and experienced second round prospects to choose from, and this deal is pretty clearly a win for Charlotte.

The potential downside here is what happens to Cody Zeller’s minutes at the 5, and though this seems insignificant, it’s worth remembering that Charlotte was 33-29 with him on the floor this season…compared to 3-17 without him.

However, internal development wasn’t going to get this team back to the postseason, and Zeller is still growing. If Clifford knows how to use D-12 to anchor what’s been a regular top-10 defense until this past season, the risk of his diminishing game and forcing Zeller to adjust will be more than worth it.

Especially since they got rid of Plumlee’s deal and moved up 10 spots in the draft.

Next: 2017 NBA Draft - 5 possible draft-day trades we want to see

Grade: A

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