Kevin Durant Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Warriors Notes: Looney, Durant, Iguodala

June 11th, 2019 at 7:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Warriors center Kevon Looney believes he will be able to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

“They’re comfortable with me going out there as long as I can tolerate the pain,” Looney said (via Mark Medina of The Mercury News). “I feel like I should be able to play in Game 6.”

Looney was originally injured during Game 2 and at the time it was reported that he would be done for the series. He came back in Game 4 and played again in Game 5, but aggravated the fracture near his chest and rib and was unable to return. Looney underwent x-rays following the contest and “everything came back clean,” per the big man.

“They said nothing got worse, but it’s about me dealing with the pain,” Looney said. “I feel confident I should be able to play through it.”

Here’s more from Golden State:

Prior to his latest injury, the Warriors were planning to offer Kevin Durant a long-term deal with the understanding that if the former MVP wanted to depart at any point during the contract, Golden State would accommodate that wish, Frank Isola of The Athletic hears. Isola adds that this type of arrangement could still be on the table even if Durant is forced to sit out the entire 2019/20 season.
Andre Iguodala has hinted that he doesn’t have many more years left in him, but he’s confident he’ll return to the Warriors next season, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic relays on Twitter. “I’ll be here next year for sure, and I’m pretty confident that we’ll have our core back and we’ll try to make another run at it,” Iguodala said.
Earlier today, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports relayed that Durant wasn’t “anywhere close” to 100% prior to Game 5. Throughout the process of returning, Durant was experiencing discomfort pushing off his right foot, the scribe added.

Kevin Durant Notes: Reactions, Ripple Effect, More

June 11th, 2019 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

Even though he was cleared to play in Game 5, Warriors star Kevin Durant wasn’t “anywhere close” to 100%, sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. As family members, teammates, and confidants checked in on his status during his recovery from a calf injury, Durant said throughout the process that he was still experiencing discomfort pushing off his right foot, Haynes adds.

There was some resentment throughout Durant’s recovery about the way the Warriors handled updates on his progress, according to Haynes, who notes that KD’s possible return became a daily talking point once the club didn’t simply rule him out indefinitely.

Durant is now facing a possible worst-case scenario, as he suffered an Achilles injury during his brief return on Monday night. While an MRI has yet to confirm the diagnosis, the Warriors believe he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. An injury of that magnitude would sideline him not only for the rest of the NBA Finals, but for most or all of the 2019/20 season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that Durant is heading to New York, rather than Oakland, for medical evaluations on his injured Achilles. The Warriors don’t expect to have an update on the two-time Finals MVP until at least late tonight or tomorrow morning, tweets Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group.

Here’s more on Durant’s injury:

Warriors guard Shaun Livingston pushed back against the idea that the team’s front office or training staff should be blamed for Durant’s injury, per Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. “I know for a fact that our team, [GM] Bob [Myers] and [head coach] Steve [Kerr], and the training staff, is not going to compromise their integrity [just to win a game],” Livingston told Beck. “They’re always going to put a player first because they look at guys as humans.”
Durant’s injury will have a significant ripple effect on the rest of the NBA Finals and the coming offseason, according to John Gonzalez of The Ringer. Gonzalez writes that teams like the Knicks and Clippers, who would have killed to sign a healthy KD, may have to re-evaluate their approach to free agency — assuming Durant even opts out of his Warriors contract, which is no longer a lock at all.
Marc Berman of The New York Post and Ian Begley of SNY.tv examine the impact of Durant’s injury on the Knicks, with both reporters suggesting that it may increase the likelihood of the franchise continuing a gradual rebuild rather than swinging for the fences this offseason.
While the Celtics were never considered a contender for Durant, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston wonders if the injury could affect the team anyway. As Forsberg observes, there has long been speculation that Durant and Kyrie Irving would consider teaming up this summer. If Durant is expected to miss all or most of the 2019/20 season – or if he opts in with the Warriors – that scenario may no longer be on the table, which could in turn increase the odds of Irving sticking with Boston for at least one more year.

Durant Suffers Achilles Injury; MRI On Tuesday

June 11th, 2019 at 7:14am CST by Dana Gauruder

JUNE 11: The Warriors believe that Durant’s MRI on Tuesday will confirm a torn right Achilles tendon, league sources tell ESPN’s Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

JUNE 10: Warriors superstar forward Kevin Durant suffered a right Achilles injury during Game 5 of the Finals, GM Bob Myers told the media after Golden State’s victory on Monday.

“The initial injury was a calf injury. This is not a calf injury. I don’t know how they are related but this is a different injury,” Myers said, according to a tweet by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Durant will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets.

Durant returned to action after missing over a month with a right calf strain suffered during the conference semifinals against Houston. Durant played well, scoring 11 points in 12 minutes, before injuring himself when he planted the leg making an offensive move during the second quarter. He was helped back to the locker room by teammate Andre Iguodala, among others.

Naturally, Golden State will be questioned for allowing Durant to play. Myers said he’ll take the hit.

“He was cleared to play tonight, that was a collaborative decision,” Ben Golliver of the Washington Post tweets. “I don’t believe there’s anybody to blame. I understand this world, if you have to, you can blame me. I run our basketball operations department.”

Durant departed the arena during the second half walking on crutches and wearing a walking boot, Shelburne adds in another tweet. If Durant suffered a tear, the injury would have giant implications on the free agent market.

Durant was expected to opt out of his contract — he has a $31.5MM player option for 2019/20 — and head into the market as the top free agent. Rumors of Durant joining one of the New York teams have been rampant and those plans could be shattered if Durant’s injury is significant. The Warriors have stated they plan to do everything possible to keep Durant.

Now, it’s possible Durant will opt into the remaining year of his contract if he’ll miss a good chunk of next season. Teammate DeMarcus Cousins didn’t return to the court for nearly a year after suffering a ruptured Achilles while he was still with the Pelicans.

Kevin Durant Will Play In Game 5

June 10th, 2019 at 6:39pm CST by Luke Adams

6:39pm: Durant will play, Kerr told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix and other media members during his pre-game press conference (Twitter link).

1:49pm: Warriors forward Kevin Durant is set to take the court for the first time in more than a month on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that Durant plans to play in Game 5.

Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link) first reported that, despite being listed as a game-time decision, Durant was expected to be a “full go” for Monday’s contest.

Durant has been sidelined since May 8, when he suffered a calf injury during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Rockets. Golden State finished off Houston in Game 6 and swept the Trail Blazers in the Western Finals, but the club has missed Durant on both ends of the floor against the Raptors. The Dubs are facing potential elimination tonight, down 3-1.

Durant wasn’t medically cleared to practice until this weekend, following Golden State’s Game 4 loss, so his participation in any sort of practice, shootaround, or scrimmage has been extremely limited. It remains to be seen how effective he’ll be upon his return, but head coach Steve Kerr indicated earlier today that there the team didn’t have a specific minutes cap in mind for the two-time Finals MVP (Twitter link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic).

Even if his conditioning isn’t up to par, Durant could have a significant impact on the game and the rest of the series. The Warriors have struggled to space the floor in his absence and haven’t had enough answers for Toronto on the defensive end. Just having Durant on the court to take minutes from the likes of Alfonzo McKinnie, Jonas Jerebko, and/or Quinn Cook will change how the Raptors line up against the Warriors’ offense and attack their defense.

Still, Durant’s return offers no guarantees for the Warriors, especially if he’s limited by his calf issue. If Golden State loses tonight, it could be KD’s last game as a Warrior.

Kevin Durant A Game-Time Decision For Game 5

June 10th, 2019 at 12:36pm CST by JD Shaw

JUNE 10, 12:36pm: Despite being listed as a game-time decision, Durant is expected to be a “full go” for Game 5, multiple league sources tell Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).

JUNE 10, 11:16am: After going through shootaround with the Warriors this morning, Durant is considered a game-time decision for Game 5, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters today (Twitter link via Sam Amick of The Athletic).

“He looked good, and we’ll see where it goes,” Kerr said.

JUNE 9, 5:31pm: Warriors star forward Kevin Durant is currently listed as questionable to play Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a positive sign for a team down 3-1 in the series heading back to Toronto.

Durant, who has missed each of his team’s past nine playoff games, has been dealing with a strained right calf. Saturday marked one full month since he originally suffered the injury, with some of his teammates expressing frustration over his absence during the club’s Game 4 loss, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The potential return of Durant, a consensus top-three NBA player, would be a major boost for a Warriors team that’s averaging just 105 points per game this series. Golden State has missed his production on both ends of the floor, starting 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala in his place.

“He will be very welcome, I’ll say that much,” Thompson said of Durant, as relayed by Dan Wolken of USA TODAY Sports. “I think it’s pretty easy to realize we obviously miss him out there and he’s propelled us to two championships in the last two years. So it would be pretty storybook if he could come back and help us do the same.”

Before straining his calf, Durant held per-game averages of 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the playoffs, shooting 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from behind the arc.

Teams are 1-33 all-time when facing a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals, with the only NBA team in league history to achieve the feat being the 2016 Cavaliers. Golden State will try to make history beginning on Monday with a potential return of Durant.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Kevin Durant Medically Cleared To Practice

June 9th, 2019 at 12:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Durant will practice today for the first time since straining his right calf, tweets Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made the announcement this afternoon, saying Durant will participate in a workout with some of the team’s younger players, adds Marc J. Spears of ESPN (Twitter link). “He’s doing more today,” Kerr told reporters. “We’ll know more after that.”

It’s not a guarantee that Durant will be ready for tomorrow’s Game 5, but it’s welcome news for the Warriors, who face a 3-1 deficit as the series heads back to Toronto. The practice will include a lot of running up and down the court to see how the injured area responds, relays ESPN’s Nick Friedell (Twitter link).

“What he’s going to do today, he hasn’t done,” Kerr said. (Twitter link from Ben Golliver of The Washington Post)

Knicks Notes: Barrett, Walker, Durant, Robinson

June 9th, 2019 at 11:36am CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Knox, the Knicks‘ first-round pick last season, is lobbying for R.J. Barrett to get that designation this year, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Knox, who attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals with a small Knicks contingent, may be on hand tomorrow for Barrett’s workout in New York. They have faced each other before as high school opponents in Florida.

“If we get the opportunity (to be teammates), I think we’d jell really well,’’ Knox said. “He’s a great player. He can pass well, score the ball well. I think we’d complement each other.’’

Barrett is generally considered the third best player in the draft and the likely selection for the Knicks with the No. 3 pick. It’s also possible that Knox and Barrett could be teammates with the Pelicans if both are included in a trade for Anthony Davis.

There’s more today from New York:

It appears Kemba Walker won’t be the solution for the Knicks’ backcourt, according to Ian Begley of SNY.TV. Rival executives tell Begley they don’t believe going to New York is a likely outcome for Walker if he decides to leave Charlotte. The three-time All-Star recently said that the Hornets are his “first priority” in free agency. They have the ability to offer Walker a five-year super-max deal worth up to $221.3MM, while other teams will be limited to four years at $140.6MM.
The Knicks have become so “brazen” in their belief that they are landing Kevin Durant that other free agents are getting upset, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. He states that the organization is behaving as though a deal is already in place, even though Durant has strongly denied making a decision, and the Warriors seem resigned that he will be gone after the playoffs.
New York should try to avoid giving up Mitchell Robinson in a trade for Davis, states Zack Rosenblatt of NBA.com. The second-round pick had a remarkable rookie season, averaging 2.4 blocks per night in 66 games. Rosenblatt sees Robinson as a perfect complement to play alongside Davis if the Knicks can make a deal happen without him.

Frustration Builds Over Durant’s Playing Status

June 9th, 2019 at 10:13am CST by Arthur Hill

There’s “some internal optimism” in the Warriors‘ camp that Kevin Durant will be able to return for Game 5, but the day-to-day uncertainty regarding his status is frustrating his teammates, reports Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Sources tell Amick that many in the organization expected Durant to come back for Game 4 and play through the pain like Klay Thompson (hamstring), DeMarcus Cousins (quad), Andre Iguodala (calf) and Kevon Looney (collarbone fracture) are all doing. Amick points out that the decision isn’t Durant’s to make. His availability is determined by trainer Rick Celebrini, who hasn’t deemed him ready to play.

Two sources say that Game 5 has always been the earliest realistic date for Durant’s return. He still hasn’t been able to practice since straining his left calf May 8 in the conference semifinals.

Still, there was tension in the locker room Friday night among some players who didn’t understand why Durant didn’t try to take the court in such a pivotal game. The Warriors had a chance to tie the series on their home court, but now they head into tomorrow night with their season on the line.

Looney describes the difficulties Golden State has faced throughout the playoffs as a series of injuries repeatedly disrupted the rotations.

“It’s never knowing who’s going to play the next game, not knowing who’s going to be out there, what rotations we’re going to do,” he said. “That’s tough, but the character of our team is that whatever happens, whoever’s out on the court, we’re all accountable to get the job done. We’ve got great leaders in Steph, KD and Draymond (Green), and there ain’t no excuses. If we’re out there, we’re going to try to win.”

Looney insists the Warriors have remained united through all the trials, and said Green gave a strong rallying speech after the Game 4 loss.

“He made sure we had our heads up,” Looney said. “Said ‘Stay confident, know who we are. We didn’t get here by quitting and pouting or giving up. We always believe, and we’ve got a bunch of guys who have been underdogs and who have been counted out before.’ I think we’re going to embrace this challenge more. Everybody probably thinks we’re going to lose now. And being the underdog again, like we haven’t been in a long time, it’s fun. We’ll try to go out there and prove everybody wrong.”

Warriors Notes: Durant, Thompson, Gay, Lopez

June 8th, 2019 at 6:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Durant‘s return appears to be the only thing that can save the Warriors in the NBA Finals, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Golden State’s hopes for a three-peat are fragile as they head to Toronto with a 3-1 deficit. Injuries have hampered the Warriors throughout the playoffs, but the Raptors are the first team to fully take advantage.

There’s no guarantee Durant will return in time to make a difference and there’s not much evidence his condition has improved significantly since he suffered what was called a “mild” calf strain in the conference semifinals. Coach Steve Kerr told reporters last night that he will no longer provide daily updates on Durant’s condition.

“We’re hoping he can play Game 5 or 6,” Kerr said. “And everything in between I’ve decided I’m not sharing because it’s just gone haywire. There’s so much going on, and so it doesn’t make sense to continue to talk about it. He’s either going to play or he’s not.”

There’s more news on the two-time defending champs:

Since the injury occurred, the Warriors haven’t put a timeline on Durant’s return other than to say they’re optimistic he will be back, notes Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. Kerr is leaving all decisions to the medical staff, which has determined that Durant isn’t in condition to play. Medina observes that a mild calf strain would be considered Grade 1, which have a seven- to 10-day recovery time. It’s more likely Durant has a Grade 2 condition, which would sideline him for four to six weeks. He suffered the injury exactly a month ago.
Medina identifies Rudy Gay and Brook Lopez as upcoming free agents who might be willing to take the Warriors’ $5.3MM taxpayer mid-level exception for next season. He adds that Golden State will re-sign Klay Thompson “for sure” and will take advantage of Kevon Looney‘s Bird Rights to keep him.
Problems at center are among the reasons for the 3-1 deficit, contends Ben Rohrbach of Yahoo Sports. He calls DeMarcus Cousins “a disaster” in Game 4, unable to keep up with the Raptors after returning from a first-round quad injury. Looney, playing with a costal cartilage fracture, didn’t contribute much after halftime, leaving 34-year-old Andrew Bogut as the best choice in the middle.

Kevon Looney To Play in Game 4

June 7th, 2019 at 6:37pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Warriors big man Kevon Looney will play in Game 4 of The Finals on Friday despite a fracture adjacent to his collarbone, Ben Golliver of the Washington Post tweets.

Coach Steve Kerr said that after receiving a second medical opinion, Looney is physically able to return to action. “The guy is tough and wants to play,” Kerr said. “The injury is in an area where it will give him a shot to play.”

The official term of Looney’s injury is a costal cartilage fracture. The surprising development of Looney’s possible return surfaced on Thursday. He was injured during Game 2 of the series.

Looney’s impact goes well beyond the stat sheet. He’s the most mobile of the Warriors’ frontcourt rotation players and serves a major role in their pick-and-roll defense.

Golden State will also have Klay Thompson back in the lineup after he missed Game 3 with a mild hamstring strain, though Kevin Durant remains sidelined with his calf injury. Kerr said he hopes Durant can return for Game 5 or 6, Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post tweets.