The Atlanta Hawks have signed center Dwight Howard, an Atlanta native, to a three-year, $70.5 million deal, according to The Vertical.
Howard, 30, averaged 13.7 points per game last year, his lowest average since his rookie year. He did average 11.8 rebounds per game, however, and his free throw percentage (62) was a career high.
Earlier Friday, ESPN reported Howard had no plans to meet with any team other than the Hawks, though the Celtics and Trailblazers reportedly expressed interest.
"It was a really, really, really good meeting," a source told ESPN of Howard's meeting with the Hawks. "Very impressive. Dwight's going to look at all his options. But it went very, very well."
Howard's Houston Rockets were bounced in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, 4-1, by the Golden State Warriors. He struggled to coexist with ball-dominant guard James Harden.
Howard has also previously played for the Lakers and Orlando Magic. This move marks his return to the Eastern Conference, where he dominated and led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals (they fell, 4-1, to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers).
Fans had varying reactions to Howard's signing.
The new-look Hawks, who are expected to lose Al Horford, are re-tooling this offseason in an attempt to pose a threat to Cleveland.
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