Why all this love for Howard? He's never won anything and isn't anything close to what he was with Orlando. And the game is going in the opposite direction (smallball) of what he brings to the table. How has he worked out with the last two teams he was with?
If Miami makes that deal they're worse-probably a lot worse. If Atlanta deals any of those guys they're worse and their long term situation is worse because they have him for one more year and he's a free agent.
Pass.
He is a physically dominant (6'11", 265 pound, 7'5" wingspan) beast of a man who is:
* An 8 time All-Star
* A 3 time defensive player of the year
* 21st All-time in Defensive Rating
* 30th All-time in defensive win shares
* 25th All-Time in defensive Box plus/minus
* 21st all time in Blocks Per Game
* 34th all time in Player Efficiency Rating
* 4th all time in Total Rebound Percentage
* 25th all time in Free Throw Attempts
* 4th all time in FG Percentage (58%)
* 20th all time in True shooting percentage
...and has those ranks at the age of 30.
Statistically, he is one of the best rebounders, defenders and rim protectors to ever play the game while also being one of the most efficient offensive players ever to play the game.
Even today, his averages (14.6 points, 12 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 61% FG, 81% FTR) are still good enough to earn him a borderline 'elite' status.
Dwight might only be at 70% of who he once was, but vintage Dwight Howard at 70% is still significantly better than any other center in the NBA right now not named Demarcus Cousins, Pau Gasol, Andre Drummond or Deandre Jordan.
It's very, very rare to find a player who is elite on defense, elite on the boards, and an elite score. Guys like that come across once or twice a decade if you're lucky. But Dwight Howard is an elite defender, an elite rebound, and arguably the most efficient offensive player in the entire NBA -which is about the next best thing.
No matter how you look at it, there are very few players in the past two decades who have been able to completely dominate the paint the way Dwight still can.