Kevin Seraphin Is the Imposing Presence the Washington Wizards Desperately Need

It was nearly two years ago when the Washington Wizards put the hopes and dreams of their sinking franchise on the shoulders of John Wall by selecting him with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft. It was just 16 picks later that the Wizards acquired Kevin Seraphin in what some considered a questionable move.

Now that Seraphin has had time to adjust to the NBA, it appears that Washington got more than anyone expected out of the draft.

The Wizards once believed JaVale McGee was a season away from being one of the best centers in the NBA. He showed promised each year, but fell into some bad habits this season before being traded to Denver.

There was a time when a big-time dunk followed by a jovial salute during the trot back down the floor was a welcome sight in Washington.

This season, McGee became consumed by the hype generated by his undeniably exciting performance in last year's dunk contest. He lobbied for All-Star votes after losses, he attempted open court off-the-backboard dunks when his team was down and he was consumed with appearing on SportsCenter's "Top 10" while managing to appear in the "Not Top 10" just as many times.

McGee's shortcomings and lack of professionalism ultimately outweighed his potential, and it cost him a cushy spot in Washington.

In contrast to McGee, Seraphin has taken the time to hone his skills and overcome the plight of many international prospects. He isn't an offensive dynamo, nor does he have the best defensive positioning, but he works and doesn't quit on plays.

McGee worked extensively on his positioning, but his work fell by the wayside when he saw a potential highlight real block.

Washington trade McGee for Nene, and his sizable contract, which puts a damper on the progress Seraphin has made this season. He has made the most of his chances in the absence of both Nene and Trevor Booker due to injuries, but what happens next season?

The Wizards went from needing a big man to having a boon of big men and a big decision on their hands.

They can't very well bench Nene in favor of Seraphin, and they aren't in any position to trade him, nor should they. Nene is experienced and will be a welcome piece in the team's still unclear plans for the future, but Seraphin has the makings of an elite center.

In the month of April, Seraphin is averaging 16 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, with three double-doubles and six multi-block games, and he is playing 34.7 minutes per game, up from 22 in March.

The increase in minutes can be attributed to the injuries to Booker and Nene, as well as Andray Blatche's need for conditioning, but Seraphin has made the most of it.

Seraphin has just 19 starts in his two-year career, which should temper whatever expectations fans may have for the future. However, everything about him, from his physique to his playing style, is better for the Wizards than McGee could ever have been.

Nothing about McGee was imposing, even on a good night. Seraphin is a burly center who, while undersized, is not going to back down from an opponent. His shortcomings are manageable, while McGee's were not.The Wizards need a player who can bring some grit to the frontcourt, and Seraphin looks to be just the man for the job.