Phoenix Suns: 3 Free Agent Targets to Avoid Bringing Aboard

Phoenix Suns Free Agent Target to Avoid: Dwight Howard

Even after revitalizing his career with the Lakers two seasons ago, Dwight Howard still remains a bigger name than actual influencer on the basketball court. Someone seemingly posts a “never forget how good Dwight Howard was” tweet once every week, prompting millions to want him on their team purely for nostalgic reasons.

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The Suns must steer away from all this at all costs. Yes, Phoenix needs a back-up center to work behind Deandre Ayton next year with Dario Saric out indefinitely, but Howard is not the answer.

We know Ayton already operates as a near-unstoppable force down low, and with Saric’s ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, Phoenix’s two centers last year each provided what the other lacked, making themselves an incredibly versatile duo. The numbers reflect this as well, with the Suns finishing out last year as one of only four teams to rank top 10 in field goals made per game from both inside the paint and beyond the arc at the center position.

But adding Howard eliminates this versatility for the Suns. Although his presence down low could prove effective for Phoenix, Howard is arguably the worst 3-point shooter in NBA history. His numbers back up his pitiful shooting form, with him shooting a career 14-88 from outside. His 14 made triples also go down the fourth fewest by a player in NBA history to have scored at least 19,000 points.

It feels like low hanging fruit at this point to knock Howard for his shooting, but that does not make it an unimportant hole within his game. To keep themselves adaptable, the Suns need someone with a similar skillset to that of Saric to keep themselves flexible, rather than just an older, less talented, and less athletic version Ayton.