The Washington Wizards have had their eye on Kevin Durant for a very long time. Bringing the hometown hero back would make for a great story, and instantly lift the franchise up as a championship contender.
But what if Durant stays with the Oklahoma City Thunder? Then what? Does Washington have a backup plan? Well, to prevent such a disaster, maybe they should just trade for New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony instead.
As far as consolation prizes go, this wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Here's more, courtesy of The Washington Post:
Anthony is older, locked into a costly contract and, well, not as good at basketball. But if the Wizards don't have to give up more than two draft picks, it's definitely worth considering.
The case for Durant is well-stated, obviously. But the case for Melo, who went to high school nearby in Baltimore is very different. According to TeamRankings.com, Anthony is 27th in player efficiency. Per ESPN, he’s 37th overall in the similar category. Also, giving up what is effectively three first-round picks (if you include Porter) is a hefty price to pay for any player — especially considering Wizards’ recent success, though the team isn’t necessarily just a player away from a strong playoff run.
