The Washington Wizards are one of the lottery teams that need to be active on the trade market in the 2022 NBA offseason. The Wizards may have said many times that they have no intention of trading Bradley Beal and undergoing a full-scale rebuild.
But in order to convince him to sign a massive contract extension in the 2022 NBA free agency, they have to find a way to build a roster that can legitimately contend for the NBA championship title next season.
Trading For Kevin Durant
One of the dream trade targets for the Wizards in the 2022 NBA offseason is Washington native, All-Star small forward Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets. In a recent article, James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network discussed a hypothetical blockbuster trade idea to enable the Wizards to acquire Durant from the Nets this summer.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Wizards would be sending a trade package that includes Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Durant.
Wizards Add A Legitimate Star
Durant would undeniably be a dream acquisition for the Wizards. He may already be 33, but he's still one of the best active players in the NBA. Pairing him with Beal in Washington would significantly improve the Wizards' performance on the offensive end of the floor. He would give them a prolific scorer, rebounder, on-court facilitator, defender, and floor spacer.
Durant had another monstrous year in 2022, averaging 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists while shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Kevin Durant's Fit With Bradley Beal
Durant won't have a hard time building chemistry with Beal in Washington. Durant spent most of his NBA career playing with All-Star guards such as Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving.
The potential pairing of Durant and Beal in D.C. could be a match made in heaven. While he's capable of creating his own shots and running the offense, Beal could also excel in an off-ball capacity, making him the ideal teammate for a ball-dominant star like Durant.
Nets Force To Undergo A Rebuild
For now, the Nets haven't shown any sign that they are planning to move Durant. However, it's something that they would strongly consider if they lose Irving in the 2022 NBA free agency. Instead of trying to remain competitive without Irving, the proposed blockbuster deal would enable the Nets to turn Durant into assets that they could use to undergo a full-scale rebuild.
Aside from acquiring two future draft picks, the Nets would also be adding three young and promising players in Kuzma, Hachimura, and Avdija who could join forces with Ben Simmons and form the core of the next title-contending team that they will try to build in Brooklyn.
]]>The Inquisitr
