Washington Wizards: Is Dwight Howard the missing piece?

The Washington Wizards haven’t had a capable center in years, instead relying on their backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. However, Dwight Howard brings talents D.C. needed desperately. 

Finally, after years of watching Marcin Gortat clog up the paint while offering minimal statistical contribution, the foreign big man now plays ball with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In his stead, Dwight Howard was acquired during the offseason, after he went from the Charlotte Hornets to the Nets and then was bought out by Brooklyn without playing a game.

He then reached a deal with the Washington Wizards and will suit up in the nation’s capital this season.

Howard posted 16.6 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per contest in 2017-18, proving he could be a valuable contributor despite his age.

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Gortat, on the other hand, failed to average double-digits in either of those categories last year.

It seemed that he was dead weight at times, forcing the guards to do everything while the offense didn’t get much going in the paint. The perimeter was where this team lived and died until they were bounced in the first round by the Raptors last postseason.

Most possessions were one-and-done, as offensive rebounds were scarce.

With Howard now in the fold, second-chance buckets seem far more likely to occur frequently. Even though father time has to come knocking soon, Howard was more than effective enough to help the Hornets, though him and Kemba Walker weren’t enough for a playoff run.

Pairing him with the duo of Wall and Beal, however, makes for an intriguing combination. Especially with Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre around, this team is primed for a mid-to-high seed in this year’s playoffs.

Wall can drive and pass at an elite level, and occasionally shoot well too. When he can’t find his range, his best attributes add up to penetrating the paint and acting as the table setter for Beal, especially when Beal gets hot.

Beal is an offensive juggernaut, capable of pulling up from deep whenever he wants. Need be, he has no issue getting to the hoop, though Wall is the better attacker given his jump out of the gym athleticism.

Pair that one-two punch with the ability to have second chance buckets, as well as a bonus of a potential fourth source of nightly double-digit source (Wall, Beal, Porter) and Dwight Howard all of the sudden becomes the missing piece that had eluded Scott Brooks since his arrival in D.C.