What Former Wizards Players Around The League Would We Love to See in DC Again?
No. 1 JaVale McGee, C, Los Angeles Lakers
Who would have thought that JaVale McGee would still be in the league when the Wizards traded him nearly seven years ago? McGee became synonymous with boneheaded plays while he was in Washington and made the facepalm a reflexive gesture whenever he was on the court. He not only won the inaugural Shaqtin’ a Fool MVP when he was on the Wizards, but earned it again the following season with the team before being traded to Denver late in the season.
But that’s all behind McGee now. After passing through Philadelphia and Dallas, he eventually landed on the Warriors, starting for arguably the greatest team ever and winning two rings. Now, he’s starting alongside arguably the greatest player ever, ushering in the LeBron James era in Los Angeles, and continues to contribute with 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.
The personnel around him has definitely helped McGee’s play, and plopping him on the current Wizards team by no means automatically results in the same production of recent years. But for a team struggling to find a reliable presence, McGee’s motor and athleticism definitely wouldn’t hurt the Wizards. After all, it couldn’t be much worse than what they’re putting out there now.
Sure, there is almost guaranteed to be the occasional “How did he even mess that up” moment, but that comes with the territory. If the Wizards used McGee in the way that the Warriors and Lakers have, which is asking him for maximum effort and focus in limited spurts, they can minimize his potential for high jinks.
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Plus, McGee finding himself back in Washington, where he was dismissed as a laughing stock, with two championship rings and conceivably as a meaningful contributor is too hilarious a scenario not to imagine.