Image via WikipediaThe Washington Wizards went from being a perennial playoff team to one of the worst teams in the NBA to one of the potential surprise teams heading into the 2010-11 season.
The smart money points to John Wall being the main reason for the positive outlook, but third-year center JaVale McGee may just open some eyes come October.
But has he done enough to become the inside presence the Wizards have lacked for so many years?
A first-round selection in 2008, McGee was a relatively unknown prospect from the University of Nevada-Reno. He was lanky and his game was unpolished, but he had the kind of athleticism that had to be harnessed in some way shape or form. He has played sparingly through his first two season, playing behind Brendan Haywood and coming off the bench when struck by inconsistency, but McGee has shown improvement each year.
He showed even more in the Wizards Vegas Summer League by growing an inch and adding some muscle to his frame. He even got a look from the U.S. National team for this year's World Championships.
While he did not make the national team and Summer League play is worlds away from the regular season in terms of competition and defense, McGee averaged 19.5 points on 69-percent shooting and nine-and-a-half rebounds in the Wizards' five games.
His length and athleticism have allowed him minor success thus far, but he will need to refine his game to be the beast he let the world that was watching the Summer League know he can be.
If there was one thing apparent in McGee's first two years, it was his excitement.
After a monster dunk or big block, he would storm down the court like he had just beaten the world. Passion is great, but sometimes his would get the better of him and it would lead to a bad play on the other end of the floor.
Based on his physique, athleticism, and positioning, it is no stretch of the imagination to envision McGee as Dwight Howard 2.0. Howard was a defensive player and a rebounder, first and foremost, before developing his offense around the basket. McGee wasn't expected to be a centerpiece, and hasn't had that type of focus in his training.
Superstars are rarely born overnight, and they rarely last for decades afterward. McGee has a nose for the rim, whether off of pick-and-roll situations, following shots, or just running the floor. With Wall and Arenas as starting guards for Washington, running the floor will be the norm for McGee and the Wizards. In tandem with the finesse style of post-mate Andray Blatche, McGee has the opportunity to get a lot of offensive put backs.
He is a bit behind in terms of coming into his own, but only because of the turmoil around him and his asthma. Rest assured, resting beneath the lanky, baby-faced exterior is a double-double machine waiting for the season opener to start churning out the stats and stuffing the box score.
Wall may get the headlines and press coverage, but this is the year of JaVale McGee.
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