FanPost

Are the Wizards sacrificing progress in order to land Kevin Durant?

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards will find themselves in an interesting predicament in the 2015-16 season. Last year, John Wall made the leap to full-blown stardom, becoming one of the league’s very best point guards on both ends of the floor, Bradley Beal, despite more injuries and some struggles with consistency was once again in prime form for the playoffs, in which he averaged over 20 points per game, and Paul Pierce reached into his never-ending bank of swagger and late-game heroics to give the Wizards a much-needed veteran presence both on and off the floor.

These three key pieces combined with other factors led to the Wizards to a relatively successful season that ended in tremendously heartbreaking fashion. However, Washington was a John Wall injury (or a split-second) away from a possible appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. The plan for the past few years for Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis and the Wizards, has been to depend on the development of Wall, Beal, and, to a lesser extent Otto Porter, surround them with other solid players, like Pierce and Marcin Gortat, and then sign Oklahoma City Thunder star and DC native Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, solidifying themselves as instant championship contenders, if not favorites to win it all.

The plan has worked well so far, with Wall, Beal and Porter all blossoming relatively well, and the supporting cast staying solid. The fact that Washington has made it to the conference semifinals in back-to-back years shows Durant that they would definitely contend if he comes aboard. However, with Gortat being paid big money, Wall on a max deal, and Beal the next in line to cement a big payday, the KD ‘16 idea limits the Wizards want and ability to make financial commitments before the Durantula hits the open market.

Pierce fit what the Wizards were looking for so well, not only on the floor as a veteran who could hit big shots, but also for monetary reasons, as the 37-year old was not hunting for a long-term deal. Ideally, the Wizards would have kept him on as the starter for two years on his original contract and then re-signed him for less and relegated him to the bench, or allowed him to sign somewhere else, if not retire. Instead, the Truth bolted this summer, opting out of his contract and then electing to go back to his hometown and joining his former coach Doc Rivers, signing a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

To replace Pierce’s on court productivity, as well as off the court leadership, the Wizards brought in some necessary depth on the wing, trading for the Milwaukee BucksJared Dudley and signed guards Gary Neal and Alan Anderson, adding on he an offseason haul that already included draft pick Kelly Oubre. This is where the Wizards find themselves today.

Ernie Grunfeld did a very solid job enhancing the roster this offseason. He replenished the bench with better fits and more versatile players and has accumulated more depth than the Wizards have had in years. However, Washington is a team on the rise.

The East is relatively weak, and outside of the Cavs and maybe the Bulls, no team can make the case that they are clearly superior to Washington. Atlanta lost Demarre Carroll this summer, and even though Toronto added him, they cannot be viewed as above Washington, as evidenced by the 4-0 sweep the Wizards completed last postseason.

In theory, this summer would have been the perfect time for Washington to make a move and strengthen themselves as one of the best teams in the league. The patience of the front office on pulling the trigger a year earlier than anticipated is admirable, but the Wizards could find themselves in an undesirable position in 2015-16: that of a stagnating franchise being on the "Treadmill of Mediocrity."

The Atlanta Hawks of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Mike Woodson represent exactly what Washington doesn’t want to become. A team that is a guarantee to make the playoffs every year but never be mentioned with the genuine title contenders. Most teams below the Wizards made moves the off-season, hoping to climb to the Eastern Conference’s upper echelon. However, Washington stayed relatively quiet.

And it was exactly the right decision. The Wizards should improve this season, even if the step taken is marginal. Wall will likely continue to progress, Beal could take a huge step forward as he tries to ensure he gets max money, and Porter should look more like playoff Otto than regular season Otto. Even Randy Wittman seems to be evolving, and Grunfeld’s moves signal a transition into a more small, versatile, and three-point shooting team. Wizards fans may not want to wait one more year before contending. There were great players, and great fits, like Paul Millsap, available to sign. Nene may not be an NBA-caliber starter anymore, and the idea of another year of him at the four should not excite anybody.

But none of that really matters. The chance to get Kevin Durant cannot get overlooked. He is an instant franchise-changer, and all the moves this offseason signal progression, but not at the expense of future championship aspirations. The Wizards can hit the 50-win mark, win two playoff series instead one, and have an outside chance at an NBA Finals run. Even if the Wizards spend one more year without taking the Golden State Warriors leap from good to great, this offseason demonstrated that the front office soon understands that that leap could be just one year away.

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