Washington Wizards: Dwight Howard and Wizards Locker Room

Dwight Howard joining the Washington Wizards, on a two-year deal, has been met with some skepticism from both the media and fans alike. However, John Wall reached out to Howard about playing in Washington. Here’s why Wizards can’t fall into a trap.

On Friday, it was reported that Dwight Howard joined the Washington Wizards on a two-year, $11 million deal. The contract includes a player option.

However, there’s some outside noise as to how Howard would fit with his new team.

From the national media to local, there has been some trepidation to adding the athletic big to the Wizards locker room.

Because I focus mostly with what happens on the court, the addition of Howard was a win in my estimation.

He’s a rim protector, can get inside for an easy bucket, and is a formidable presence with his interior defense. (I know perimeter defense is a weakness, but the Wizards have wings for that).

Also, whether John Wall is double-teamed or not, he can lob it to Howard.

In other words, there will be less of a need for Wall to drive to the basket all the time. Thus, conserving energy. While there will be more opportunities for the point guard to make plays for his other teammates.

Others are worried about Howard in the fourth quarter. If teams employ the Hack-a-Shaq, that’s when the Wizards go small. Jeff Green shoots 86 percent from the free throw line.

For those who have been following my work, I have been writing about Howard these past two seasons, and how he can be a great addition to this team.

In none of those articles, are his locker room issues addressed. One, because my focus is on the game itself. If I wrote about things that happened off the court, any courtroom or personal issues that’s in other outlets, then it would stray from the game.

However, how Howard will fit inside the Wizards locker room, has become a story before he’s even stepped inside it. So, I will finally address it.

While others have a killer instinct, Howard has a playful instinct

This morning, I was sent a First Take link with Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman. Kellerman recited a time when he was covering the Lakers years ago.

Kellerman noted, that Howard played well. Kobe Bryant ‘handled the offense and Howard the defense’.

However, Kellerman was inside the locker room after a game. Howard walked into one room, and then the team walked into another room. Howard would then go into that room and the team would walk out.

Kellerman stated, that  Bryant essentially led a mini-mutiny against Howard.

Ok, that’s an eyewitness account, so let’s tackle the issue.

It doesn’t matter the reason why the Lakers tried to ice Howard out. It happened.

So the following will address why Wall and Beal have to control the court and the locker room: