The Washington Wizards have dropped out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. According to a report on CSNmidatlantic.com, the team is not planning to court the 2014-15 NBA MVP: "While it's evident that the Wizards aren't in Kevin Durant's plans for free agency, they aren't holding out hope to make a pitch just for appearance sake. They've moved on, and league sources tell CSNmidatlantic.com on Monday that the idea of returning home just "doesn't resonate" with the NBA's hottest unrestricted free agent.”

A team source told ESPN’s Britt McHenry that the Wizards expressed doubt in landing the All-Star forward. From ESPN.com: “The Wizards recently reached out to Durant's camp to gauge his interest in joining his hometown team, the source told McHenry, but were told that the superstar forward's situation is different from LeBron James' free agency in 2014, when the four-time MVP returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

Who's Durant meeting with?

Durant, a Washington D.C. native, will reportedly visit the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and his original team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The ESPN.com report says Durant is also considering the New York Knicks.

In his first full season back from foot surgery, Durant averaged 28.2 points per game, 8.5 rebounds and five assists for and helped lead the Thunder to within a game of the NBA Finals. Durant owns a 27.4 point per game average and a .483/.380/.882 slash line in his nine seasons as a Supersonic/Thunder.

What next for the Wizards

Washington must find help for John Wall elsewhere. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images
Washington must find help for John Wall elsewhere. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

With Durant out of the picture, the Wizards with roughly $44 million in cap space will look elsewhere to improve on last years 41-41 record. The Wizards look to build around perennial All-Star guard John Wall and improve an offense that ranked 20th in points per 100 possessions. Wall, Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris are signed long term, but guard Bradley Beal is a restricted free agent with a significant pay raise in his future. Jared Dudley and his 42 percent three-point rate are headed for unrestricted free agency. Nene is also an unrestricted free agent. Wahington is looking at lower profile options to fill the roster like New Orleans Pelicans sharpshooter Ryan Anderson.

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About the author
Christopher Jeter
My name is Chris Jeter and I am a sports writer from Baltimore, MD. I also write for The Aegis and I have my own sports blog that can be read here: https://wordpress.com/view/sportsandstuff205.wordpress.com. Follow me on Twitter @cjet91.