With LeBron moving back to Ohio, other fan bases are speculating about their favorite sons looking homeward. Wizards fans have their sights set on league MVP and Montrose Christian's own Kevin Durant.
Via the D.C. Sports Bog:
"With LeBron going back to Cleveland, everybody here in D.C. is thinking about Kevin Durant in 2016," Mitchell said. "The Wiz seem to be jockeying to be in that sweepstakes. Who are they going to have to compete against when that happens?"
"I don’t think anybody, to be quite honest with you," [Stephen A.] Smith said. "Obviously the New York Knicks would be in the mix and what have you. But there are folks that I’ve spoken to that are relatively close to Kevin Durant that tell me if he were to decide to leave Oklahoma City, it would be for the nation’s capital. That’s the kind of dude he is. That’s a place that he would consider.
Dan Steinberg reminded everyone that Smith made a similar comment last summer about LeBron considering re-signing with Cleveland. We all know how that turned out.
While the Wizards are making roster moves that could appeal to Kevin Durant, it’s hard to see a similar congruence of improbable events coalescing like they did in Cleveland. Durant's wearing a Redskins shirt doesn't mean he secretly wants to play for the Wizards.
The Wizards have a young core with John Wall and Bradley Beal; Beal is headed for a hefty payday after his rookie deal by the looks of things. The Wiz won’t be able to afford a trio of Wall, Beal, and Durant unless the new salary cap is above and beyond what we can imagine.
Plus, OKC can offer Durant more money than Washington thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement. Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook has been delicate of late, but he’s not Dwyane Wade fragile. The Thunder's locker room camaraderie is the stuff of legends, with players having created a collegiate atmosphere. Thunder teammates are so close, Durant went into shock after he heard former teammate James Harden was traded. It's hard to think he would shatter the Thunder locker room.
It is also common knowledge that the D.C. area is a region of transplants. While they love their Old Bay and ugly Under Armour uniforms, Marylanders don't share the same blind state pride that Ohioans have for their state. O-H, oh no.
However, the Wizards do play in the softer Eastern Conference, where its easier to make the NBA Finals. They also lay claim on superfan Luke Russert.
After all, Luke does supports winners like the four-time AFC champ Buffalo Bills.
I'm sure KD can't wait to see Luke wear his jersey at George.
