Fansided

NBA free agency: Atlanta Hawks pushing for Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard

By John Buhler

Nov 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) guards Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Thunder 106-100. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) guards Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Thunder 106-100. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Hawks will be aggressive in NBA free agency beyond re-signing Al Horford and Kent Bazemore. They’re pushing for Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Atlanta Hawks are “trying to wedge their way into the Kevin Durant sweepstakes.” Atlanta is pushing for a July 1 meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder small forward, but their chances of getting a face-to-face meeting don’t seem particularly high.

Stein writes that one way Atlanta will try to get a meeting with Durant is by using former NBA All-Star, television analyst and minority owner of the organization Grant Hill in their pitch. Hill is essentially the face of the Hawks’ new ownership group, led by Tony Ressler, that could conceivably help Atlanta become a marquee free agent destination.

While Atlanta has two offseason priorities in re-signing All-Star center Al Horford and starting small forward Kent Bazemore, should the Hawks fail to procure a meeting with Durant’s Roc Nation representatives, one interesting free agency target on the Hawks’ radar is Atlanta native, center Dwight Howard, formerly of the Houston Rockets.

Stein says “that one countermove Atlanta is weighing strongly is the free-agent pursuit of Atlanta native Dwight Howard to play alongside Horford in the frontcourt.” At this stage of Howard’s career he might take a pay cut to play at home in Atlanta on a strong Eastern Conference team.

Signing Howard would provide more opportunities for Horford to play his natural position of power forward. It remains to be seen what signing Horford would mean for All-Star power forward Paul Millsap and key reserve big man Tiago Splitter.

That foursome in the frontcourt would be very formidable for the Hawks, but spacing could be cramped and egos might be bruised. Atlanta does seem set on making a splash in 2016 NBA free agency one way or another, whether that is through re-signing players or bringing somebody else aboard from the outside.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.

Home/Atlanta Hawks