NBA
When the Charlotte Hornets traded Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets, a buyout was next to happen. On Friday, the buyout between Howard and the Nets became official, and it cleared the way for him to move on.
He went on to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Washington Wizards. The second year of the deal will have a player option, which can benefit him if he can put together another strong season. Howard is expected to step up and play a big role for the Wizards this upcoming season.
With the Hornets last season, Howard averaged 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in 81 games played. He definitely has something left in the tank and is an upgrade over their former center Marcin Gortat. He also isn’t the player that he was with the Orlando Magic, but he can still defend, rebound, and catch lob passes around the rim.
They were able to get a starting center for $5.5 million per year for the next two seasons. They also didn’t have to part with any assets to do it. The Wizards have an opportunity to move up in the Eastern Conference standings next season. The talent is there for them to do so.
They still have John Wall and Bradley Beal in place, along with Otto Porter, and Markieff Morris. Now with Howard on board, they will have a pretty good starting lineup at their disposal. It’s well known the Wizards had some locker room troubles this past season.
Adding Howard to that can be a challenge, especially if they don’t get off to a good start next season. However, if Howard is serious about changing his reputation, the Wizards should be fine. The talent is there for them to make huge strides. If they have can stay healthy, winning 45-50 games definitely shouldn’t surprise anyone.
