The Jazz signed Josh Howard with the hope he can provide outside shooting and decent rebounding from the small forward position. Basically, they're hoping he becomes the Josh Howard of the mid-2000's instead of the Josh Howard of the last two years.
I'm not sure that will happen. I know they watched him work out and talked to his doctors and people who have been training him. But he's 31 years old, and it's tougher to come back from knee injuries as you get older. I'm worried he's lost his spring and first step quickness. He still might be able to shoot, but I think his days of flashing to the basket may be done.
Plus, he does have baggage. His problems off the court have been well-chronicled. Maybe that's all behind him, maybe it isn't. It will be up to him to prove it to everyone that he's matured and not that kind of guy.
And there's the problem of how his arrival will impact C.J. Miles, Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks. Any playing time he gets will cut into theirs. Will there be jealousy? Can they all get along and work together? Again, that remains to be seen.
I hope this move will pay off for the Jazz, but on the surface, I think it won't. I hope I'm wrong.
