Washington Wizards starting center Dwight Howard doesn't have a back injury after all. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Howard visited a specialist in New York and has a piriformis injury, which is a muscle in the buttocks. The injury isn't considered serious and Howard will continue to receive treatment.
Howard has yet to play in the preseason and is only doing individual work in practices.
Sources on @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard visited a specialist in New York and has piriformis injury, which is a muscle in the buttocks. The injury isn't serious and Howard will continue treatment.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 9, 2018
After getting traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason, Howard and the Nets agreed to a buyout agreement. Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall recruited Howard to the nation's capital, and Howard signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Wizards. Washington traded Marcin Gortat to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers, and was in need of a starting big man.
Last season with the Hornets, Dwight Howard averaged 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent from the field in 81 regular-season games. It was Howard's highest scoring average since the 2013-14 season, when he posted 18.3 points per game with the Houston Rockets.
If Howard isn't ready for the Wizards' regular-season opener next week against the Miami Heat, Washington will be forced to start Ian Mahinmi. Howard, who underwent back surgery in 2013, has to be relieved that his back wasn't the issue.
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