T.I. on Al Horford Leaving Hawks: "It Was Hard To See Him Go"

There was a lot of money spent during the NBA offseason with the salary cap set just north of $94 million for the 2016-17 season. Aside from Kevin Durant leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder and signing with the Golden State Warriors and Derrick Rose being traded from his hometown Chicago Bulls and landing with the New York Knicks, players signing with their hometown teams has been ‘a thing.’

Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat, a team he won three championships with and inked a deal with the Chicago Bulls.

Dwight Howard also did it. “Man, everybody’s going home,” Atlanta rapper and actor T.I. joked.”

Despite only averaging 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game last season as a member of the Houston Rockets, Dwight Howard played comfortably.

An Atlanta native, Howard signed a three year $70.5 deal with the Atlanta Hawks and will play home games at Philips Arena; minutes away from his high school, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. Howard became a sensible fit after Al Horford bolted Atlanta to sign the richest free-agent contract in Boston Celtics history on a four-year, $113 million deal in July.

T.I. was disappointed to see Horford, leave. A nine year vet with career averages of 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, Horford was a fan favorite. TI is a fan of both the Hawks and Horford, but also understands that the NBA is a business. “It was hard to see him go,” he said.

“Of course we appreciate Al and all of the many years of just outstanding efforts and energies he’s given. It was hard to see him go as well as Jeff Teague. But I salute him and support him on his journey. Thinking positively though we got Dwight Howard.”

Check Out TI’s Why You Wanna

The Hawks are surely a perimeter oriented team. Howard’s inside presence may be just what they need in addition to an inside physical presence at center defensively.

Perhaps his first season in his hometown of Atlanta is a fresh start. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore, Howard wants to be considered a threat from mid-range and believes that if he confidently shoots jumpers, it will add another aspect to his overall game. “It’s all about being able to grow and just having confidence,” said Howard. “Coach (Mike Budenholzer) has total confidence in me shooting the basketball. So, that’s not an issue. I think in the past I’ve started to shoot and then I’ve stopped. I can’t allow missing or anything like that to affect how I play on the floor.”

The Atlanta Hawks open up their season at home on October 27 against the Washington Wizards.

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Brandon Robinson

Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson is a managing editor and columnist at RESPECT Magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopB and Instagram: @Scoop_B. As a 12 year old, he was a Nets reporter from 1997-1999, co-hosting a show called Nets Slammin' Planet with former New Jersey Net Albert King and Nets play-by-play man Chris Carrino. He's also been a writer and radio host at CBS and a staff writer at The Source Magazine. He's a graduate of both Eastern University and Hofstra University. You can catch him daily on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. Visit ScoopBRadio.com to listen. For inquiries and to contact Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson visit ScoopB.com