For a long time, Washington has been preparing to make a run at Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, and time to make their pitch seems to be right around the corner. Only about a year away, free agency will open up again, and KD is going to be the prize of one lucky team.
Earlier in the year, an anonymous NBA player claimed Durant would go to the Wizards once he became a free agent so he could return home and play in the Eastern Conference. This only added speculation to what Washington’s hometown hero would do when he would have the chance to go home.
With the cap to hit around $89 million, money isn’t going to be too much of a problem. John Wall is locked up until 2019 and Bradley Beal is likely going to reach an extension this offseason, so Durant would have no problem getting a $30-35 million max contract from the Wizards. The only problem for Washington is this will be the case for all teams looking to sign the former MVP.
There two a few different factors that could determine if Durant could come in as a small forward or a stretch power forward.
Otto Porter is going to have an opportunity to become a full-time starter this season, and has to make the most of it if he wants to remain in the starting lineup. If Durant would come to DC, either could play 3 or 4, but part of this season is going to be Otto’s audition to show both Durant and the Wizards he belongs.
Nene’s contract will be up at the end of the season, so depending on what happens with him in free agency, a few different things could happen. If he re-signs, Durant would play small forward and he would remain at power forward, but if he moves on from Washington, the Wizards would either have to sign a new starter or use a full-time stretch four.
Let’s say the Wizards sign KD while also re-signing Nene or a brining a new starting power forward in through free agency or the draft. Porter has such a bright future as a member of the Wizards, so it would not be smart to trade him, but it’s also going to be hard to send him back to the bench.
Last season’s playoffs proved Porter belongs as a starter in the NBA. At least Washington is not putting their whole franchise on the line by hoping Durant chooses to come home. If he doesn’t, they are prepared, but if he does, they are going to find a way for Porter to have a significant role.
Wizards fans might not be too happy if KD chooses to pull a LeBron move and sign a 2-year deal with a player option for the second year. It would always be a possibility to win a championship and leave town or leave after his first season because he wants to be in Oklahoma City or even another NBA city. However, the salary cap is scheduled to get even higher in the summer of 2017, so a move like this could be to simply get a higher pay-day.
The hype and excitement that would come to Washington if Durant actually chose the Wizards would be something amazing this city has not seen in a long time. All of the suffer and struggle this franchise has had in recent memory is already coming to a close, but signing one of the league’s best would pack the Verizon Center on a nightly basis.
Without KD, Washingon has been two wins away from an Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the past two season. This team is already ready to win, but bringing the Thunder star to the nation’s capitol would have to make them one of the league’s top dogs.
A team with John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant seems more like an NBA All-Star team than a team suiting up for the Washington Wizards. The league may as well cancel the All-Star game if Durant signs with Washington and make fans watch the Wizards because man, their games would be something quite amazing to watch.
