Hawks will attempt to swoop in on Dwight Howard if the Nets deal falls through.

Atlanta has always been one of those backend franchises when it comes to the furor over Magic center Dwight Howard.

A backend franchise is any team that is used to bolster the interest of a player in trade or free agency situations that own only a sliver of hope that they can land the guy.

Over the past 48 hours or so, the situation has been that Howard is indeed going to be a Brooklyn Net at some point after the allegedl four teams involved get their details together.

The Nets want him, he reportedly only wants to pay there and the Magic want to get something…anything out of losing him in lieu of watching him walk away after this year is over with.

Something could go wrong and according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, if it does the Hawks are ready to get back in the ring swinging after shedding a boatload of cap space in trading( ironically enough) Joe Johnson to the Nets.

Howard has kept most of the league at bay from trading for him by stating he won’t re-up with any other franchise but the Nets after this season is completed.

There’s only a few GMs in the league that are arrogant enough or desperate enough to roll-the-dice on creating a atmosphere that is so Dwight-friendly that he could potentially be talked into staying beyond 2012-2013.

If the Nets deal falls through, Atlanta could (and this is a long shot) be a team that could barter a long term deal with Howard.

Every kid that makes it is fueled by the desire to be great and that greatness starts off with youthful dreams.

The worse a local team is the bigger the dream can be as when you are on the local court or in the backyard, you dream of being the guy…that guy that can bring the first championship to his city.

Being from and still having close ties to Atlanta, Howard I would bet money on this has dreamed of doing what the legendary Dominique Wilkins could not do and that is winning it all.

Sports analysts speak of Howard’s desire to build his own legacy that is without the trappings of playing under the shadow cast by a guy like Shaquille O’Neal

One of Atlanta’s biggest shadows is fading by the year as Doc Rivers will historically be written up as one of savviest coaches to ever guide the Boston Celtics.

Yes, there is also the factor of hometown pride.

Howard still hosts annual basketball camps in the area and gives back to the community in multiple meaningful ways.

His family is deeply rooted in the fiber of the city.

His mother broke barriers at the iconic Morris Brown College playing on their first women’s team. His father has worked as both a state trooper and the athletic director for the esteemed Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.

His parent’s wishes have been publicly presented that they would prefer that he stay in Orlando.

It’s hard to envision them being nothing but elated if he brought his talents back home.

There are a lot of assumptions and fairy-tale style happy endings in that scenario.

However, if this thing with the Nets does not go down and the Hawks were to close the deal on Howard as they already hope to, there is more there than in any other destination that could convince him to re-sign after this season is over.  That is fact.