Can Juan Dixon Come Home Again?
The Washington Wizards must have this thing about homecomings, because they are really doing their part to get D.C. and Baltimore fans excited about the upcoming season. Yesterday, they signed my boy DerMarr Johnson, and today, they signed College Park legend-turned-NBA journeyman Juan Dixon.
Casual Wizards enthusiasts believe that Dixon got the shaft from Michael Jordan and the rest of the Wiz front office after being drafted in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft. But while he’s always been a prolific scorer and has current Wizards vouching for him, he’s been proven to be mediocre at best at the point guard position; the only position where his size and ability could halfway work on both ends of the floor.
Now, I’m not one to disparage the signing. I think its a masterful move by Grunfeld to bring some excitement to a team that will be sans Gilbert for at least a month. But will it really mean that much over the course of training camp, and into the regular season? Can he be that much of a difference maker on a team that couldn’t get a defensive identity with Jason Bourne as an assistant coach?
Can he come home again?
In spirit, he’ll always be welcomed home. Talent wise, it might just be a brief family reunion for the pride of the Terps. And I really hate to say that, because he’s worked pretty hard for professional basketball types to truly miss what he can bring to a team. But a big heart and a soft touch will only get you so far, and it would be fitting for home to be the last stop on what has to be a far cry from Juan Dixon’s self-expectations.
 |  |
