But the likelihood is that Durant does not come to D.C. And if that's the case, the Wizards need a Plan B, which will be completely dependent on whether they still want to be a pace-and-space team going forward. If so, there are some potential moves to make that would allow them to play that way more often, for longer stretches.
If the Wizards have $22 million to $24 million of the $30 million or so of cap room they'll have this summer tagged for Durant, they could (and should) be ready to utilize that space to add two or three players who could continue allowing them to play fast.
Brooks, I'm told, is a strong believer in Porter's potential. Porter averaged 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, and shot 36.7 percent on 3-pointers. And Porter does a lot of little things right, namely he's a solid defender both individually and in the team concept. But it's still not what the third pick in the 2013 Draft is expected to provide after three seasons. There's no reason Brooks can't take a good look at Porter while the team explores adding another player at that position. If the Wizards succeed, they can move Porter along.
The Wizards need to mimic what Charlotte did -- pay and trade for as much shooting and ballhandling as you can fit into your budget. In fact, the Wizards should start by trying to raid Charlotte, and go after unrestricted free agent forward Nicolas Batum.
Batum will be 27 at the start of next season -- right in what should be the Wizards' age wheelhouse, still young enough to develop a little more, but experienced enough to be able to help Wall and Beal in the heat of a playoff race.
Batum had a terrific season in Charlotte, and he did so because he's playing a bigger role there this season than he did as the fourth option in Portland behind LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews.
The Hornets use Batum as a major part of their offense, as a ballhandler who breaks down opposing defenses and makes plays. He was fourth in the league among forwards in assists per game this season (5.8), trailing only Draymond Green, LeBron James and Tyreke Evans. That's exactly what Washington needs -- someone to help Wall when the game slows to halfcourt speed.
No one's better on earth with the ball in the open floor than Wall, but when teams defend the Wizards' screen and roll well, Wall often struggles to find quality shots. Having a player like Batum who can create -- or, if nothing else, to just get the defense moving, at which point Wall would be coming downhill on the weakside -- will be crucial going forward. (Beal got better at playmaking this season, but it's still not a strong suit for him.)
Batum won't be cheap. He's coming off a four-year deal worth almost $12 million per year. Starting threes of his vintage are going for $15 million to $16 million annually (DeMarre Carroll, four years, $60 million from Toronto last summer; Chandler Parsons, three years, $46 million from Dallas in 2014; Gordon Hayward, four years, $63 million from Utah, which matched Charlotte's offer sheet in 2014.) That's probably the floor for a guy like Golden State's Harrison Barnes, another potential free agent target for the Wizards. But Barnes will be restricted, meaning the Warriors could match any offer sheet another team gives him.
The number is probably around $16 million to 17 million per season. Pricey. But Batum would help, immediately.
So would Omri Casspi. The Kings' veteran shot 41 percent on 3-pointers this season in 69 games.
The Wizards have been looking for a veteran stretch 3-4 for a while. They tried hard to get Ryan Anderson from New Orleans before the trade deadline, but didn't want to give up a first-round pick (they ultimately did, of course, sending their 2016 first to Phoenix for Morris -- though there's a miniscule chance Washington could keep it, depending on the Lottery results). That's no longer an issue for Anderson, a rising unrestricted free agent.
Anderson is still viable. He'll only be 28 on opening night. He did miss 60 games two years ago because of a neck injury. But in his other seven NBA seasons, he's averaged 66 games played. More critically, he's a career 38 percent 3-point shooter. If Washington wants to really go pace-and-space, it needs a stretch four who can spell Morris, or spot start if necessary, depending on matchups. It wouldn't be a mistake to pursue him.
But Casspi is much cheaper.
Anderson made about $8.5 million annually on his last deal and he'll be looking for a raise.
Meanwhile, Casspi -- also 27, like Anderson, also a three-point shooter, like Anderson (41 percent behind the arc this year for the Kings in 69 games), is -- unlike Anderson -- under contract for 2016-17, at a very reasonable $2.9 million. With the Wizards' cap space, they wouldn't have to give up a player for Casspi, who also would bring some grit off of Washington's bench if the Kings were interested in making a deal.
Then, make a play for Warriors guard Ian Clark. The Wizards may not be able to afford Barnes. But they could look into another young Warrior, Clark, to further bolster their bench.
The 25-year-old Clark worked his way into Golden State's rotation this season, appearing in 66 games off the bench. He shot almost 36 percent on 3-pointers. The former Belmont star is ready to handle more minutes in a more meaningful role than fourth guard and he has major sixth man offensive potential. The Warriors will surely try to keep him, but they'll have limits, given that they'll either be re-signing Barnes to a long-term deal this summer or, perhaps, making their own run at Durant.
Either way, the Wizards are in position to substantially increase Clark's $947,000 salary this season. He's not yet a full mid-level player, but, well, the Hawks are getting Kyle Korver for $6 million a year. Is Clark's potential worth, say, $5 million annually -- or a half-million more per year than what Washington was willing to pay Martell Webster to shoot off the bench just a couple of years ago? Here, in this column, it says yes.
That's three guys, who can all shoot and space the floor, all in their mid- to late 20s, totaling $24 million, give or take a dollar (if the Wizards got Batum, Casspi and Clark at the above prices), and significantly improving the potential firepower of the Wizards' bench.
Washington has around $44.3 million committed to Wall, Gortat, Morris, Porter and Oubre next season, and has to keep just under $22 million available to start a potential max deal next year for Beal, a restricted free agent. (Both sides are hopeful to work out a new deal in July.) That works out to around $90 million for nine players. The salary cap is currently projected at around $92 million.
Assuming Washington waived the non-guaranteed deals of Drew Gooden and Jarell Eddie, the Wizards would need to add three additional cap holds on their roster to get to the minimum 12 players required. At $543,471 per hold for a minimum salaried player next season (according to cap guru Larry c00n), Washington would have to commit another $1.63 million in salary.
That would leave the Wizards at $91.6 million or so -- just under the projected cap, and well under the projected luxury tax threshold of $111 million. So they could potentially add a veteran big or two at a minimum to help replace Nene, almost certain to leave via free agency, without getting anywhere near the tax.
There's a dozen different ways the Wizards could go. This is just one scenario. But Washington has to be ready with a Plan B (and C, and D) if Brooks' presence in D.C. doesn't change the tide, or change Durant's tune.
#FireGrunfail
