May 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) reacts after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Wizards – Now Hiring: A Superstar
The Washington Wizards were a fairly strong team in a conference that was far from it, and so they rode their advantages all the way to an appearance in the Conference Semi-Finals. Now, however, they’ll try to replicate that same success without one of their biggest playoff heros, Paul Pierce, who left to sign with the Clippers this off-season.
In response, the Wizards made some solid moves in the offseason, bringing in solid rotational pieces who will do their part to lead the franchise to another playoff appearance. The issue is that they’ll likely reach the playoffs just to be bounced out in the first two rounds once again. The team will likely struggle to bring in a top tier talent during trade deadline frenzy due to their unwillingness to part ways with some of their young talent like Otto Porter Jr. and Bradley Beal.
Their sights, though, are narrowing on a prize that they can earn after the final whistle of the season is blown. That prize’s name: Kevin Durant. While in recent weeks rumors have swirled linking a number of teams to the impending Durant sweepstakes, the Wizards are widely deemed a frontrunner as they reside in KD’s hometown of Washington D.C.
Washington has a certain star in former No. 1 overall pick, John Wall. His ability to score, distribute, and defend make him one of the game’s elite point guards. The big question surrounding Wall (and just about every other lone star in the league today) is whether or not he can lead a franchise to the promised land without a couple of other big names alongside him.
By many estimations, Wall just can’t do this alone – few, if any, can. Should the Wizards manage to reel in the greatest fish in the coming free agent pool, they will without question elevate themselves to the status of legitimate contenders for the Eastern Conference crown.