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NBA Rumors: Despite Hiring Scott Brooks, Kevin Durant Isn’t Going Home

By Michael Saenz

Dec 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks (L) talks with forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks (L) talks with forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Rumors: Even though the Washington Wizards signed his ex-coach, Scott Brooks, Kevin Durant will not sign with his hometown Wizards

My biggest concern with the Washington Wizards signing Scott Brooks is that this is a move that was made solely based on increasing their chances at landing Kevin Durant this summer.

And when Durant elects to sign elsewhere, the Wizards will be left with an unproven head coach on their hands.

However, I can’t sit here and say I blame the Wizards for pulling such a move either. Entering this season, one of Washington’s bigger goals had to involve transforming into a desirable landing spot for Durant. If nothing else, not hurt their chances.

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Though, because of falling short of expectations, almost the opposite has happened. The Wizards failed to make the playoffs a year after making a run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and looked flat out dysfunctional at times.

Thus, them resorting to firing Randy Wittman, a move that was probably a couple years too late, and hiring Durant’s ex-coach, Scott Brooks.

Despite that, though, according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Durant is still a long shot for the Wizards.

"[via Yahoo]Washington will be pursuing D.C-area native Kevin Durant in free agency, but the Wizards remain a long shot in his recruitment, and Brooks’ hire isn’t expected to have a significant impact on Durant’s ultimate decision-making process, league sources said."

And if hiring his former coach is the only thing that the Washington Wizards have going for them when it comes to the pursuit of Kevin Durant in the offseason, that’s not a good sign.

Even though the front office will never admit it, this is where I believe the Wizards have messed up. Think about this: the Wizards didn’t interview anyone other than Brooks before offering him the job? Don’t think this was their guy from the beginning? He was.

He was probably their guy even when Wittman was still coaching this team.

As soon as Brooks was fired from the OKC Thunder, the Wizards targeted him. They just waited for the right opportunity. They couldn’t fire Wittman after making huge strides last season, so they were waiting for the first legitimate opportunity.

When they regressed this season, it was time.

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There’s a good chance that Brooks develops into a good coach and actually works out in the end for the Wizards. The problem is, there could’ve been a better fit out there for this team. Unfortunately, because of their infatuation for a dream scenario that will never come to fruition, we’ll never know.

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