Charlotte Took Howard While Atlanta Reset Its Roster
The Hornets acquired Dwight Howard and the No. 31 draft pick from Atlanta in exchange for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee and the No. 41 selection in June 2017. Howard was returning to a coach, Steve Clifford, familiar with his earlier career as an elite rebounder and interior defender. Atlanta, which had acquired Howard only a year earlier, was shifting direction under new management. The club accepted two veterans and a lower pick to alter a frontcourt contract and make room for different lineup combinations. This was not a straight one-player swap.
Howard Produced One Strong Individual Charlotte Season
Howard gave Charlotte legitimate center production, starting 81 games in 2017-18 and averaging roughly 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds. That volume is important when weighing the trade: the Hornets did receive a productive player, not a failed acquisition with no games. But he was not retained as the team's long-term solution. Charlotte moved him again after the season while adjusting its roster and finances. The exchange brought impressive individual counting statistics without delivering a sustained second phase of Howard's Hornets career.
Belinelli, Plumlee and Dorsey Gave Atlanta Multiple Paths
Belinelli added perimeter shooting and reserve scoring, though he spent only part of the season with Atlanta before departing. Plumlee provided another veteran center option, with his contract and minutes contributing to the club's subsequent planning. The No. 41 pick became guard Tyler Dorsey, giving the Hawks a prospect to develop rather than merely a veteran salary swap. None of these incoming pieces alone matched Howard's statistical output in Charlotte. Their collective utility and Atlanta's decision to reset an expensive center commitment explain the club's side of the transaction.
The Different Time Horizons Define the Result
The Hornets received the best single-season player, but their acquisition ended after one campaign. Atlanta acquired three separate assets and gained control over the direction of its frontcourt and reserve guard development. Neither outcome should be exaggerated: Belinelli was temporary, Plumlee wasn't a star and Dorsey didn't establish himself as a franchise guard. Still, the Hawks obtained multiple usable elements without carrying Howard through another long stint. The canonical Atlanta advantage weighs those roster options against Charlotte's brief burst of center production.
Final Verdict
Hawks Win. Atlanta earns B+ for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee and No. 41 pick Tyler Dorsey, a package that also helped the franchise reset its center commitment. Charlotte receives C- despite Dwight Howard's strong 81-game double-double season, because his Hornets stint lasted only one year. The judgment favors Atlanta's broader flexibility over an impressive but temporary individual return.