The Hawks, like most Eastern Conference teams, are trying to find a way to unseat the Cavaliers.
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After hiring new general manager Travis Schlenk, the franchise may be ready to make some changes. But don't expect center Dwight Howard to go anywhere anytime soon.
"Listen, Dwight is one of the best big guys in the league still," Schlenk told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday. "He averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds a game. He’s one of the best rebounders in the league. He’s one of the best rim protectors in the league.
"I haven’t had a chance to talk to Dwight personally. We’ve exchanged some text messages. I certainly plan to talk to him soon and get to know him. I’m not going to judge you from what I’ve heard. Let me see you face-to-face."
It would be a drastic move to get rid of Howard after he signed a three-year, $70.5 million deal last offseason, especially considering there is a good chance Atlanta will lose power forward Paul Millsap to free agency. Losing both frontcourt starters in the same offseason would be tough to manage.
At the same time, Howard is a financial risk for the Hawks. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft has averaged a double-double in each of his 13 NBA seasons, and is one of the last true centers in the game.
A higher precedence has been placed on "stretch 4s" and mobile big men that can step outside and shoot. Even guys like DeMarcus Cousins and Al Horford have transitioned into outside-inside threats.
By NBA standards, Howard is a dinosaur walking his last steps before the meteor hits. The game has moved on from the post feed, transitioning instead to the pick and pop that requires a big man to step outside and hit open shots.
A perfect example is Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who stands the same height (6-11) as Howard, but during the course of the game, the two players might not make a similar play. Antetokounmpo handles the ball, shoots from beyond the arc, and drives to the lane.
That's the type of big man the NBA craves these days, which is why players like Howard, Pistons center Andre Drummond and Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan are unfortunately part of a dying breed.