Atlanta Hawks offseason recap: Can Dwight Howard fill the Al Horford void?
With the bulk of NBA free agency in the books, USA TODAY Sports explores how all of the offseason moves will alter each team as we look ahead to the 2016-17 season.
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Projected starting five: Atlanta Hawks
(Stats from 2015-16 season)
- Dennis Schroder - Points: 11.0, assists: 4.4, rebounds: 2.6, steals: 0.9, field goal percentage: 42.1%
- Kyle Korver - Points: 9.2, rebounds: 3.3, assists: 2.1, steals: 0.8, field goal percentage: 43.5%
- Kent Bazemore - Points: 11.6, rebounds: 5.1, assists: 2.3, steals: 1.3, field goal percentage: 44.1%
- Paul Millsap - Points: 17.1, rebounds: 9.0, assists: 3.3, blocks: 1.7, field goal percentage: 47.0%
- Dwight Howard (with Houston) - Points: 13.7, rebounds: 11.8, assists: 1.4, blocks: 1.6, field goal percentage: 62.0%
Added - Howard, Bazemore (re-signed), Kris Humphries (re-signed) Jarret Jack, Malcolm Delaney, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Bembry, Isaia Cordinier, Matt Costello
Lost - Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Lamar Patterson, Kirk Hinrich (unsigned)
Biggest acquisition - Howard
While the fate of a franchise is almost never as simple as one player, a large portion of the Hawks' future rests on Howard's shoulders. Still one of the most gifted bigs in the league, could a change of scenery reignite his career? Or will he continue on the downward spiral that began in Orlando and continued in Los Angeles and Houston?
Biggest departure - Horford
Filling the void left by Horford — a four-time All-Star who spent all nine of his NBA seasons in Atlanta after being chosen with the third pick in the 2007 draft — will be no walk in the park. Is it possible for the Hawks to save face with Howard taking over the starting center duties?
X factor - Howard (see above)
Offseason grade - C+
Next up: Boston Celtics
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