Howard agreed to a three-year, $70.5 million deal with the Hawks on Friday, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard represents one of the biggest front court pieces of the free agency puzzle, so his signing with the Hawks is an interesting one given that they were still in the conversation for Al Horford. Howard's signing with the Hawks makes it unlikely for Horford to return to Atlanta, suggesting that Howard and Paul Millsap will combine for their starting front court combo in 2016. Howard showed flashes of the dominant player that made eight consecutive All-Star games while with Houston over the last three seasons, but those flashes got fewer and farther between over time. He'll have a strong supporting cast around him in Atlanta that also includes an intelligent coach in Mike Budenholzer that could be able to tap back into Howard's talent.