Ever since Kevin Durant’s first go-around in free agency, the Washington Wizards have been one of the teams that were a possibility for him. For many, the move just made a lot of sense: Durant grew up near D.C in Seat Pleasant, Maryland, so a move to the Wizards would be a homecoming of sorts for him.
With rumors about the Suns trading Kevin Durant after this season, there are once again rumors about where the former MVP will go. NBA legend Carmelo Anthony advocated for KD to join the Wizards, saying that he can “rekindle his fire in DC”.
“KD to the Wizards,” Melo said on his podcast. “I would love to see him in the Wizards. That’s just me, personally, with my s—. End it back home. You ain’t goin’ to chase, you ain’t gonna go with these other teams that’s out there. You already got your rings.”
Let’s talk about why that would be an awesome idea.
1. The hometown connection
NBA player Kevin Durant on the Washington Redskins sideline before a game.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
This one is the easiest to see by far, and is the main reason this KD-to-Wizards rumors have some legs. As mentioned earlier, Durant grew up near Washington, which could make a hometown return an exciting prospect.
Durant is also quite attached to his hometown. He is known to be a fan of the Washington Commanders, even when they were known as the Redskins. He’s attended practices by the Commanders and even said he was interested in joining an ownership group of the team when it was for sale.
2. Preparation for his farewell tour
While we’re on the topic of KD’s hometown connection, having his farewell tour in DC would be quite the sight to behold.
Durant is already 36 years old, with a lengthy injury history. There was a point where we thought he might never play again after he tore his Achilles in 2019. The contract he gets this offseason may very well be his last contract.
The other options for the location of Durant’s farewell season are… spotty at best. Golden State perhaps makes the most sense, but it’s hard to see him joining the Warriors after they traded for Jimmy Butler. A return to OKC sounds amazing, but his departure in 2016 continues to sour some fans on him. Durant wasn’t in Phoenix or Brooklyn long enough for a farewell tour there to feel sentimental.
Having him play out his final season in the place where he grew up is a solid alternative. That way, he would get to ball out in front of a hometown crowd one last time while wearing a Wizards jersey.
3. A solidly competitive roster
Kevin Durant drives to the basket Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert.
Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, though: any team signing Durant would have to be a competitive playoff contender, at the very least. Winning has always been one of KD’s top priorities, and it’s highly unlikely that will change even when he’s at the twilight of his career.
Durant is still a top-15 player in the NBA at worst. This season, he’s averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, all while shooting 53.7% from the field and 39.0% from deep. He would instantly raise the Wizards’ floor if he joined them.
It helps that the Wizards have a solid core of players that can be competitive with a true top contender. The additions of Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton add valuable veteran experience to one of the youngest teams in the league. Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George have all shown flashes of being extremely good players this season.
Should Durant join some amalgamation of this core, they would be a solidly competitive team in the Eastern Conference. We’ll see if Durant will consider this trade.