Washington Wizards: 3 reasons Dwight Howard is a good pickup

Despite what appears to be a decrease in value for the former All-Star, the Washington Wizards are making a great move in picking up Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard continues his journey across the NBA landscape, this time landing in the nation’s capital in the form of a one-year deal from the Washington Wizards for the mid-level exception. The deal was first reported by The Athletic.

Since leaving the Orlando Magic in the summer of 2012, Howard has never been able to stick to any place he’s flung himself towards. The Wizards will be Dwight’s fifth team in as many seasons, a pretty clear indicator that the once beloved big-man isn’t so popular among NBA circles anymore.

Despite most people’s distaste for the one they once called Superman, Howard still has plenty left to give, coming off a season in which he averaged 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Washington isn’t without its own problems to deal with, lest it brings a guy like Dwight into their locker room, but this is a team that’s always fallen a hair short once the postseason roll around.

Howard may not be the guy who once won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year trophies, but he can still produce at a fairly high level. With the Eastern Conference as open as its been in a long time, the Wizards were right to take a gamble on a possible difference-maker in the playoffs.