Paul Millsap is going to be so pissed.
During a conversation with Basketball Insiders’ Alex Kennedy, Kent Bazemore indicated that the Atlanta Hawks will be Dwight Howard’s team. Seriously:
I think obviously losing Al and Jeff – two All-Stars – is a blow, but from an organization standpoint, I know they were looking to head in a new direction. Jeff and I had been here the longest out of everybody on the team, but they felt it was time to make a change. They’re going with a younger point guard, Dennis Schroder, who is defensive-oriented. They brought in Dwight Howard, who is one of the most dominant centers of all-time and poised for a breakout year. He seems super hungry. I’ve chatted with him a few times and he seems like he’s ready to get after it. It’s a situation for him where, unlike in L.A. and unlike in Houston, this is going to be his team. We’ll work off of him. We understand that he’s been to the NBA Finals and played on some great teams. We’re looking for him to be a leader for us, and I think he can do it.
Kudos to Bazemore for making Howard feel welcome. But this should be Hawks’ fans worst nightmare.
Atlanta should not be Howard’s team. Players should not be leaning on him for primary leadership. Yes, he needs to lead, to perhaps be more serious. But that needs to happen by example—by ditching the idea that he is the guy and embracing his role as a pick-and-roll finisher and rim protector as part of a larger collective.
Maybe Bazemore is only talking about the Hawks being Howard’s team insofar as they’re hoping he may lead by example. And that’s sort of fine. But the Hawks haven’t been anyone’s team over the last couple years. And while they may need someone to fill the vocal leadership void that, perhaps, wasn’t being covered by Al Horford and Paul Millsap, they’re taking a radioactive risk in looking at Howard to be the difference.
