The Washington Wizards may get a much-needed infusion of talent very soon as veteran swingman Josh Howard, who has missed the entire season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, may return to the lineup tomorrow night. Here's the official word on the story via the Wizards' official Twitter account:
Josh Howard is on his way to take a physical and said depending on what the doctor says he could play tomorrow.
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A return tomorrow would pit Howard against LeBron James and the Miami Heat, against whom the Wizards could certainly use offense.
The Wizards acquired Howard from the Dallas Mavericks last February in the blockbuster trade which sent Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Lone Star State, but Howard played just five games for Washington before tearing that left ACL in a collision with a Chicago Bulls player. The Wizards declined their team option for Howard's contract this summer--which they planned to do prior to Howard's injury--but kept him on the cheap with a one-year deal.
Howard, who made the All-Star team in 2007, owns career averages of 15.3 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 45.4 percent from the field. The seven-year veteran will turn 31 this April, so he has likely reached his peak as a player. Still, with Washington struggling to get production at small forward--Al Thornton is scoring 9.4 per game on 42.8 percent shooting--Howard figures to help the Wizards bolster a weak point in their team right now.