Brendan Haywood: Player Formerly Known as Brenda Toughening Up

If Gilbert Arenas brings a heightened sense of organization and swagger to the Washington Wizards, then Brendan Haywood brings a defensive calm to the same.

You wouldn’t have known it last night in the Wizards' home loss to the Miami Heat, but the player formerly known as Brenda is giving us certain glimpse of a bright future for the team.

Could this be the same guy who was a temperamental diva just a few seasons ago?

The same guy who regularly fought with Etan Thomas because he didn’t like being challenged in practice?

Is this the same product of North Carolina who came into the league with faulty expectations and a false sense of self-worth?

Yep, that’s our Brenda. Girl, Interrupted what they used to call him.

Now, he’s prime to be a double-double machine in 2010. And more than that, he’s been one of the guys who has regular abstained from blogger fodder and worked hard on his comeback. With he and Arenas on the floor next season, opponents’ drive-and-kick philosophy won’t be as potent against a legitimate shot blocker.

And with a post presence that makes far better offensive and defensive decisions than Andray Blatche, the Wizards may have some offseason leverage to move Blatche  for a decent veteran post player with some good years left.

Rasheed Wallace perhaps? If they throw in the pick, Amare’ Stoudemire, maybe?

So thank you, Brendan Haywood. You’ve justified your gender, made the franchise a lot better off, and the best is yet to come.