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NBA: The Best 2016 Free Agent For Every Team

By Ryan Blackburn

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) tries to dribble past San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) tries to dribble past San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Wizards – Kevin Durant

Much has been made about the Kevin Durant recruitment in the capital city.

The Washington Wizards signed Durant’s old head coach, Scott Brooks, to a five-year deal to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future. Not only is Brooks one of the best candidates to lead John Wall and the rest of the roster, but he’s a blatant power play to bring Durant back to his hometown in Washington D.C. where he would be familiar.

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There are many factors for why Durant should consider the Wizards. First and foremost are the head coach and the hometown city, obviously, but in John Wall and Bradley Beal, Durant would have two players who are comfortable deferring to him in clutch situations.

Russell Westbrook has assumed a heavy ball handler role in Oklahoma City, and while this has appealed to Durant’s strengths in some ways, it sometimes leads to possessions down the stretch where Durant doesn’t even touch the ball. That should never happen for as transcendent of a scorer he is, and while Wall and Beal are both skilled enough to create offense in crunch time, neither of them are near Durant’s level.

Also, Durant would be moving to the Eastern Conference and away from the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, both of which are likely to control the conference for a long time with multiple high quality players under the age of 30. In the East, Durant’s path to the Finals is significantly less difficult, as he only has to go through an older LeBron James and any other team that happens to be good at the time.

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There may be better fits than Washington, but if Durant has any desire to come and play for a team that can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals every single year, then the Wizards can certainly do that with him on the roster.