While it’s been made clear from the beginning that, if the Brooklyn Nets are able to trade Kevin Durant, his preference would be to play for either the Miami Heat or Phoenix Suns, there’s a new team that is said to be a potential suitor for the All-NBA star.
Sam Amico of Hoops Wire reported Monday that he’s being told the Washington Wizards are a team to watch in the Durant sweepstakes.
“Several sources even have told Hoops Wire to keep an eye on the Wizards, who could make a major push,” said Amico. “Durant is a DC product, too. He may not be upset about playing at home alongside Bradley Beal.”
Lending some credence to that report is that ESPN’s Bobby Marks also mentioned the Wizards as a wild-card entrant for Durant. Not to mention that the franchise tried really hard to sign him back in 2015 as well.
One of the main reasons a trade to D.C. might be appealing to Durant is that it would be a return home. The two-time NBA champion was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
However, hometown advantage is going to do much to sway Brooklyn, who rightfully want a king’s random for a player of Durant’s caliber. They won’t be able to get Beal as part of a trade and that doesn’t leave too many enticing pieces on the Wizards roster for them to choose from. Amongst names like Kristaps Porzingis, Rui Hachimura, Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, and Corey Kispert, only Porzingis and Kuzma are under contract for one more guaranteed season.
The odds remain more likely that Durant will stay in Brooklyn for the time being, or at least things get ugly and the Nets are forced to make a tougher decision.
[Hoops Wire, LBS]
