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The Washington Wizards are now 1-5 to start the new campaign. Amidst one of the worst starts to a season in franchise history, the team has received a much-needed boost, with reports emerging that big man Dwight Howard is set to make his Wizards debut at some point this week.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the 32-year-old veteran is nearing a return, and it may come at just the right time for the struggling Wizards.
“Dwight Howard, who has been sidelined with a buttocks injury, is expected to make his season debut this week, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and the Wizards hope he can provide them with a defensive boost,” writes Haynes.
Howard is currently dealing with a lower back/butt injury, which has stalled his much-awaited debut for his new team. He will likely be worked back into fitness, so it would not be surprising if he is put under some sort of minutes limit for the time being. It is also likely that he will come off the bench behind Ian Mahinmi, who has been rather unimpressive deputizing at the 5.
Once fully fit, Howard should be the Wizards' starting center moving forward. He should be able to man the middle for the team and serve as the side's defensive anchor.
Last season with the Charlotte Hornets, Howard put up stellar numbers, averaging 16.6 points on 55.5 percent shooting, 12.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 2.6 turnovers in 30.4 minutes per contest. The eight-time All-Star was also able to stay healthy throughout the year, playing in 81 games for the Hornets — his best fitness record since the 2009-10 season while he was still with the Orlando Magic.
The Wizards are set to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, but Howard is more likely to make his season debut on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder or on Sunday versus the New York Knicks.
