Is Javale McGee the next Dwight Howard?

Those who watched the NBA All-Star weekend dunk contest are familiar with Javale McGee’s athleticism. In his third season with the Washington Wizards, McGee has become far more than just a dunker.
Javale, son of former Portland Blazer George Montgomery  and women’s basketball star Pam McGee, is quickly coming into his own among the NBA’s big men, showing vast improvement on both ends of the floor in the 2011 season.
If there is any criticism of McGee, it is his tendency to admire his own athletic plays instead of seeing them through to completion. When he blocks a shot or throws down a vicious dunk, he stops to enjoy his work.
If he was the first to do so, this would be a valid criticism, but any basketball fan knows he isn’t.
McGee’s ability to intimidate on the defensive end, along with a consistently improving offensive arsnal brings to mind another great NBA center as a comparison, Orlando’s Dwight Howard.
Howard was a one-trick pony, however impressive that trick was, when entering the NBA as a rookie. Over his time in the NBA Howard has developed his game and is now a legitimate offensive threat not only inside but on the perimeter as well, making him almost impossible to contain for opposing defenses.
Nearly averaging a double-double during the 2010 campaign at 10.1 points per game and 8.1 boards per game, Javale McGee is finally starting to put these same pieces together.  These numbers, along with an average of 2.1 blocks per game have made the Wizards center a force to be reckoned with.
If McGee can continue to improve at the same pace which he did from 2010 to 2011, he could have the same positive effect on whomever he plays for that Dwight Howard has had for the Orlando Magic.
A big man that can run the floor, finish with grace, hit the open jumper, grab a tough rebound in traffic and swat away shots with ease is a rarity.
Javale McGee has the ability to do all of the above. If he can do so consistently, the NBA may just have its next Dwight Howard.
Or, perhaps, something even better.