ATLANTA (AP) On a night when the focus was on the future, the Atlanta Hawks insisted the trade of Dwight Howard was not the start of a major rebuilding job.
New general manager Travis Schlenk met with the media shortly before the start of Thursday’s NBA draft to discuss his first big move: a deal that sent Howard to the Charlotte Hornets , while bringing little in return except salary cap relief.
Schlenk, who came to Atlanta from champion Golden State , said the deal fit his goal of maintaining roster flexibility ”as we work to get this franchise going in the direction we want it to.