The Washington Wizards are hoping to sign Kevin Durant this summer, but the on-court fit might be a bit awkward

It’s easy to look at a player like Kevin Durant and assume he would be a perfect fit wherever he lands this summer. But, as we’ve seen in the past with top free agents, that’s not always the case.

The Washington Wizards seem like a fantastic fit for the former MVP. He’s the hometown kid, John Wall talked about the team needing another star and he’s as unselfish as they come. On the court, though, there could be some problems.

Durant, many would argue, is better at the power forward spot than he is at the three. Washington already has two capable small forwards, and players that have played the three their whole lives, like Paul George, could be reluctant to play what’s largely considered a “big man” position.

Out of both of Washington’s small forwards, Porter is currently the only one out of the two forwards who’s done enough to prove he can play the stretch position proficiently.

Though that’s the case, Porter is still a huge question mark at the stretch position since the sample size is relatively small.

On the offensive end, Porter is capable of spacing the floor for the guards, but showed trouble defending inside against other big men.

Washington would have the same issue they had last season with Jared Dudley at the four spot. They would lack toughness and rim protection – two factors that caused much of their troubles.

That being said, the Washington Wizards could also begin to experiment with Kelly Oubre at the four spot.

The super athletic 6’7″ wing has a high vertical, and a very wide 7’2″ wingspan, making him adept at defending the perimeter.

Given his incredible work-ethic, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see Oubre playing some four next season under Scott Brooks.

At this point, though, it would be extremely unrealistic to expect Oubre to play the four.

He’s simply too raw for the drastic change.

The potential change could possibly stunt his growth significantly.

Oubre has a tendency to foul, is already undersized, and lacks strength compared to others playing the forward position.

It would be a difficult transition and would take a lot of time and work. Right now, it’s not something the Washington Wizards should seriously consider.

So, now let’s consider the other side of things.

Kevin Durant signs with the Washington Wizards and is willing to play power forward, taking the starting spot from Markieff Morris, who’s known for being an emotional player. If Morris becomes disgruntled, then what?

Washington would also have to find a way to split minutes between Morris and Durant because the former’s effectiveness would drastically decline without John Wall on the court.

It might seem like a good problem to have, but it’s one that’s difficult to figure out. Talent that doesn’t mix well can cause some chemistry issues on the court – just ask the Houston Rockets.

If the Washington Wizards do acquire Kevin Durant, they would probably have to move Otto Porter. As a result, Oubre’s growth would be slowed behind Durant as well.

Oubre’s playing time, once again, would be significantly lower than anyone in the starting unit. If the goal is to eventually have Oubre become one of the team’s star players, it couldn’t be done with Durant in town.

The Oklahoma City Thunder ran into a similar issue with James Harden after starting veteran Thabo Sefolosha. Although Harden obviously experienced a lot of success, he didn’t break out until he left Oklahoma. The same thing occurred with Reggie Jackson. If the Washington Wizards want Kelly Oubre to thrive, he needs to be on the court with the starters.

Washington is going to pursue Durant, and if they get him, they’ll become a lot better – on paper. There’s no question that Durant would help them sell tickets and potentially win games, but the latter is not guaranteed. The fit is kind of awkward for Durant and the rest of the players on the roster.