Since Kevin Durant asked for his transfer, more than half of the teams in the league are fighting for him. They all want him back, but the question now is which one will be ready to match the expectations of the Brooklyn Nets. What if the Washington Wizards pulled out all the stops to bring KD back to his hometown?
According to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, we should keep an eye on the franchise. The Wizards could position themselves on the file and make a big offer to the front office of Sean Marks. An operation that would bring Durant closer to his roots, to form a tandem with Bradley Beal.
Born in Washington, the “Slim Reaper” is a product of the capital. He grew up on the outskirts of town and played for several Maryland teams at the amateur level. Younger, he was nevertheless a fan of the Raptors, and not of the Wizards. But there would still be a strong symbolism in his return to the District of Columbia.
At almost 34, Kevin Durant is coming off a very successful individual season. He is averaging 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists, 51.8% shooting and 38.3% three-point on it. The winger is one of only three players to score so much with such efficiency, with Giannis Antetokounmpo et LeBron James. No franchise in the NBA can remain insensitive to this phenomenon.
It is certain that a trade of this kind would pass a milestone for the Wizards, who have not exceeded the semifinals of conference for 43 years. However, the market value of KD is extremely high. They will hardly be able to put together a convincing offer. It may even be impossible.
Blocked, the Nets would be ready to start the season with Kevin Durant
Washington can’t transfer their draft picks to 2026 because of protection on their 2023 pick. A major problem, as Brooklyn is no doubt expecting plenty of them. Already for this first point, Tommy Sheppard and its front office seem out of the running.
Next, the Nets are asking for at least one All-Star in exchange for Kevin Durant. The only member of the team who fits this criteria is Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause in his contract. Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura and one or two picks will clearly not be enough. It’s obvious.
If they really want to get Durant back, the Wizards will have to pull off a real magic trick. But, in real life, magic doesn’t exist. The return of the promised child can therefore wait.
