Dwight Howard finally found someone to pay him what he wanted.
The former Houston Rockets center agreed to a three-year, $70.5 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Chris Broussard.
Howard’s contract all but ensures the departure of incumbent Hawks center Al Horford, who’s reportedly meeting with the Boston Celtics later Friday night.
Howard, who was born and raised in Atlanta, opted out of the final year of a $23.3 million contract with the Rockets and wanted approximately $24 million per season in his next contract. Experts believed Howard would only receive $12 million to $15 million, but this deal with Atlanta gives him a slight raise from his Houston option at $23.5 million per season.
Howard, 30, averaged 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds last season and is an eight-time All-Star.
Thumbnail photo via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Images
