Washington Wizards: 3 reasons Dwight Howard is a bad call

1. Superman is past his prime

There’s no question about it, Dwight Howard is past his prime. It can be argued that he’s been past his prime since suffering through a back injury in 2012 that forced him to sit out the playoffs with Orlando.

Howard’s value while with the Magic couldn’t be captured statistically. He was so dominant in the paint that he forced opponents to shoot from the outside, and if they did drive the lane it often resulted in a contested or blocked shot. He also possessed incredible speed for a big man that allowed him to get back quickly defensively to halt fast breaks.

While with the Magic, he led the NBA in rebounding in four of his last five seasons with the club, and led the league in blocks from 2008-10. Since leaving Orlando, he’s declined in every statistical category. A former blocking machine, he hasn’t averaged more than two blocks per game since his time with the Lakers in 2012-13.

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With Howard turning 33 years old in December, and having played over 1,035 games in his career, it’s unlikely that we will ever see Superman Dwight Howard again. Yes, he will improve Washington defensively, but at what cost? For a team that lacks chemistry and an identity, a problem player past his prime isn’t the answer.