He can't be that bad... I mean he laughed at Grant Hill when he tore his knee up... "Magic forward Juwan Howard agrees that Hill is somewhat of a drama queen. I always check the caller ID every time the phone rings. Now, every time I see 'Hill, G.' I just let it ring. I used to feel bad for the guy, but then I remember he’s being paid $93 million to rehab and play X-box. He’s always complaining too, which is why I always check the caller ID every time the phone rings. Now, every time I see ‘Hill, G’ I just let it ring.” http://www.sportsgoons.com/Vol2_Iss10/Hill_knee.htm And he has an action figure.... http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MF70437 No mention of VD...
I got a feeling he is gonna be traded again before the season even starts. He is not attending the press conference at TC tomorrow (even though he did a TV interview last week saying how ecstatic he would be to play for the Rox) and he definitely does not seem like the kind of player JVG would want on his squad (especially with MoT already here). I wouldn't be surprised if he's traded for a starting point guard who also has a long cumbersome contract and then we just pick up a 4/5 banger with the MLE or TE/S&T.
I'm not a big Howard guy. I think he is overrated offensively. He only had a decent year last year because the Magic weren't playing for anything and McGrady shut it down. His jumpshot is way too flat and opponents will not hesitate in leaving him wide-open looks. He misses a lot of short gimmes. I'll pull for him though, but to say he is a solid player is overstating it a bit IMO.
Having watched him at Washington, Denver, Dallas & Orlando, I would recommend that you not invest too much hope in this guy. Sure he's a 17 & 7 guy but his game is a lot like Mo Taylor's - in fact, he's sort of a MoT who sort of rebounds...sometimes. He's NOT the answer at PF in this division - KG, Duncan & Nowitzki will eat him alive. Nope, they still need to get a PF. To compare him to Malone is really unrealistic. He's OK, not great.
Averaging 17 and 7 for your career is by definition "Solid". And trading your best PF who also happens to have the best contract, is not solid.