34. Dwight Howard, C, Hawks
Prime Howard is clearly a thing of the past, lost to time and an ailing back. We won’t again see his skyscraping vertical as Howard finishes an impossible lob or erases the shot of some hopeless opponent. It was those qualities—along with Howard’s feel for coverage and ability to cover ground—that distinguished him as one of the very best players in the league. Now they exist in such muted variations that the Rockets let Howard walk in free agency without objection. Clearly he is no longer suited to play for just any team. The right one, however, can still make great use of Howard’s mobility, rim protection, and strengths as a finisher. To be in decline is not to be washed. Howard can still do a lot of good when he’s able to quiet his contrary instincts and work his way into the right positions. His own judgments are implicit in that, for better or worse. Too often Howard tries to orient his offense from the post when that element of his game has suffered the steepest decline. His team can live with that impulse if it can be reasonably controlled. Howard, like most players, invests more when he feels involved in play-to-play operations. A strict catch-and-finish role wouldn’t provide that and thus would undercut the defense and rebounding that make him this valuable in the first place. Indulging Howard thus becomes a crooked necessity—an acceptance of one of the weaker aspects of his offensive game for the sake of accessing a broader scope of skills. You don’t post Howard for efficient returns. You post him (in small doses!) because he’s an outstanding finisher whose low-block inefficiency comes out in the wash. You post him because he still, even in decline, is one of the most effective deterrents around the rim in the entire league. You post him for the screens, the rim runs, the rolls, and the thankless defensive possessions where he’s left to clean up the mess. There’s enough here to justify the investment, frustrating though it may be in concept. (Last year: No. 19)
+ Very difficult to box out; strong enough to get the ball better than half the time (50.9%) when within 3.5 feet
+ A presence in the lane that reshapes where opponents get their shots
– Free throw problems somehow got even worse (48.9%) last season
– One of the most turnover-prone players in the NBA
