Juwan the not-so great

Sporting News, The, Dec 20, 1999 by Stephen Siegel

Juwan Howard is the poster boy for all that is wrong with the Wizards. Yes, he was an All-Star in 1906 and has the potential to be an All-Star again. He is, in fact, a pretty good player. But a "pretty good" player isn't worth more than $100 million.

The Wizards have been terrible this season, and the fans who bother showing up for games boo the home team. There simply hasn't been anything to cheer about. The team got Ike Austin in the offseason to add toughness and post play, but he's just another small forward in a center's body. Toughness? It's a myth in Washington, as is leadership.

Though Howard can consistently rack up solid stats (he doesn't, but he could), "solid" doesn't carry a team. When Chris Webber was in town, the standard line was that the two played the same position and could never lead the team anywhere as long as they were in the same lineup. They led the Wizards to the playoffs once--a three-game sweep in 1997--but regressed as a team after that.

Webber, a power forward, is in his second season in Sacramento and dominating games, but Howard still is playing small forward in Washington. The Wizards' power forward position? It's manned by various journeymen, who also happen to be the only hustlers on the team.

Howard has an excellent baseline jumper, but he can't hit from far enough outside and doesn't have the quickness to keep up with other small forwards. He doesn't get enough rebounds or have the toughness to handle playing inside. With his contract, the Wizards aren't likely to find any takers for an overpaid softy of a forward. All they can do, really, is insist Howard bulk up and begin to develop competent post-up moves and rebounding skills.

He also could help the team more if he took on a leadership role. There is enough talent on the Wizards' roster--old as it may be--that the team could regain some respect if it had someone whose example it could follow.

Howard is a good player who has failed to further develop his game. For that, he gets superstar money. If he can't find a better game, he could scrounge up a better attitude. Until he does, the Wizards are going nowhere--and Howard is leading them there.

Stephen Siegel is an editor for THE SPORTING NEWS.