Washington Wizards: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Storyline 1: How will Dwight Howard fit with the Wizards?

Much has been said about Dwight Howard in the previous seasons. Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker did his best to debunk the latest rumor about Howard being a locker room distraction and that says a lot.

The Wizards had their fair share of distractions off the court in 2017-18. Things really hit a climax when John Wall and Marcin Gortat went back and forth at each other in the media. However, with Gortat gone, it seems things may be a lot easier in 2018-19.

Things simply didn’t work out for Howard and the Hornets in the end, as he ended up being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, who then bought out his contract a few days later. Point guard John Wall didn’t hesitate to hit Howard’s direct messages on Instagram, urging him to join the Wizards.

Soon after, Howard signed a deal with Washington with a player option on the second season. Howard certainly gives the Wizards much better balance in the frontcourt as a dominant scorer and rebounder.

He’s certainly an upgrade from Gortat, but the Washington Wizards are a team that likes to play small-ball. The Wizards ranked fourth in the league last season in 3-point percentage (37.5 percent). In a game where wins matter more than shooting 3-pointers, Howard could work out after all and will be one player to keep an eye on all season long.