The Wizards really agreed to a deal with Dwight Howard, per report
What the headline says.
The Washington Wizards have agreed to a one-year deal with Dwight Howard for the taxpayer mid-level exception, according to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss. Howard negotiated a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets, the team he was traded to in late June, to sign the deal with D.C.
The Wizards knew it was time to move on from Marcin Gortat, moving him for Austin Rivers before free agency began. It seems Howard will be his replacement as the starting center around John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter. Howard was rumored to have had interest in the Warriors until they signed DeMarcus Cousins instead.
Are the Wizards better with Howard?
Um. I mean. Maybe?
Howard averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds last season, but the 32-year-old doesn’t fit in the modern NBA. He can’t guard smaller players or shoot from distance, but he’s still a plus-defender. It’s not like he’s terrible... he just isn’t the Dwight Howard you thought about seven years ago.
Wall and Howard should run the court well as long as their personalities don’t collide. Washington’s added yet another controversial personality inside its locker room along with Rivers. Time will tell how that plays out.
But even if the personalities mix, this move doesn’t move the needle for the Wizards.
Fans and Twitter know it:
Dwight Howard’s locker room destroying powers are wasted on an easy mark like the Wizards
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) July 3, 2018
Just ask @EppyBen and @ChrisGreenberg. I’m already dead inside about Dwight in D.C. and he hasn’t even signed yet.
— Reggie Comma Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) July 3, 2018
Dwight Howard isn't well liked by his peers and thinks he's much better than he is
— Carter Rodríguez (@Carter_Shade) July 3, 2018
Basically what I'm saying is that he'll fit in great in Washington https://t.co/IFrEfistx7
Dwight Howard AND Austin Rivers? Does the word "chemistry" mean anything in the NBA?
— Andrew McHale \\// (@CSSDuke) July 3, 2018

