Kevin Durant Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Warriors Optimistic About Durant’s Return

April 1st, 2017 at 5:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Durant‘s performance in a five-on-five halfcourt workout today has the Warriors believing he will be able to play again before the regular season ends, writes Monte Poole of CSNBayArea.

“He looks good,” said assistant coach Willie Green, who participated in the workout. “He’s doing about everything he normally does. The thing is, now you don’t want to push too hard.”

It has been a little more than a month since Durant suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain and a tibial bone bruise in his left knee. He went through today’s workout wearing a protective brace that stretches from his tibia to a few inches above the kneecap.

Golden State has six games remaining in the regular season, which wraps up April 12th.

Assistant Mike Brown said Durant’s agility and movement have almost fully returned, but head coach Steve Kerr warned that a regular season return isn’t guaranteed.

“We’re getting closer, but we’re not there yet,” Kerr said. “He’s doing well, but we have to keep it going and let it play out until he’s completely ready.”

And-Ones: Durant, Front Offices, Combine

March 31st, 2017 at 8:43am CST by ChrisCrouse

Kevin Durant believes it’s unfair to criticize the top players for sitting out games, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com relays. “The truth about it is, it’s only for a couple of players in the league,” Durant told Haynes. “They don’t care if the 13th man on the bench rests. It’s only for like [LeBron James], [Stephen Curry], [James Harden], [Russell Westbrook]. It’s only for like five players. So you want a rule just for those five players?”

“It’s hard for you to just craft a rule out for the top players. I’ve seen guys that’s not even in the playoffs resting, sitting out for the rest of the season. And it’s nothing against those guys. I’m not trying to bash them or anything. [Suns center] Tyson Chandler is out. They got him sitting out for the rest of the year. I’m sure he wants to play, but they’re not saying anything about Tyson Chandler, so it’s hard for me to really talk about this. It’s not a league-wide rule. It’s not a league-wide concern.”

Durant added that he empathizes with fans who miss out on seeing their favorite player when they come to the arena. “I see it from the fans’ perspective and the players’ perspective,” Durant said. “I’m caught right in the middle.”

While the 2013/14 league MVP feels bad for those fans who show up the arena, he gives the situation some perspective.

“On the other hand, there’s a lot of people that can’t even afford tickets to the game. So, I kind of feel sorry for you, but then I don’t when I look at it that way,” he added. “Your parents spend hard-earned money, I understand you want to see your favorite players, but there’s some people who don’t even get a chance to watch a game live.”

Durant hasn’t played since February because of a knee injury, but the team recently announced that he has made “very good progress.” The small forward could see court-time again before the end of the season.

While we wait for Durant to get healthy so his fans can see him play, check out some notes from around the league:

ESPN.com examined every front office in the league and ranked them from top to bottom based on the guidance and leadership each organization provides and how it affects success on the court. Unsurprisingly, team president Gregg Popovich and GM R.C. Buford received the highest mark. Which team received the worst mark? The Kings came in slightly below the Knicks for worst front office in the league.
Thunder assistant GM Mike Winger, Spurs assistant GM Brian Wright, Nets assistant GM Trajan Langdon are among the executives who are viewed as potential nominees for GM roles should they become available, Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com writes. Arnovitz adds that Wright may be a few seasons away from landing a gig, but those within the league believe he has what it takes to do the job well.
JK Management announced that it will hold the first annual Professional Basketball Combine at IMG Academy. The PBC will take place in the days following the league’s official combine in Chicago.

Warriors Issue Health Update On Kevin Durant

March 29th, 2017 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors have made an announcement regarding Kevin Durant‘s recovery from the knee injury that has sidelined him for the last four weeks, confirming that a return to game action prior to the end of the regular season is still in play (Twitter link).

According to the team, Durant has made “very good progress” and hasn’t experienced any setbacks. He’s participating in non-contact basketball drills and the team’s plan is to intensify his “level of movement” over the next few days. The Warriors says their star forward will be re-evaluated in about seven to 10 days, at which point he may be nearing a return.

It has been four weeks since the Warriors announced Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise. Golden State lost five of its first seven games after Durant went down, but have rebounded in a major way since then — the club is currently on an eight-game win streak.

Although the Warriors likely won’t need Durant to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, it would still be a great sign for his chances of making a major impact in the playoffs if he can get back on the court for at least a couple regular season contests in April. ESPN’s Marc Stein, who reported last week that Durant could return before the playoffs, tweets that the most likely comeback window is during the Dubs’ final three home games.

Durant may be on a minutes restriction when he gets back in the lineup, as we heard over the weekend.

Kevin Durant Will Likely Be On Minutes Restriction Upon Return

March 25th, 2017 at 9:44pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Kevin Durant will be re-evaluated by Golden State’s medical staff on Thursday to determine a more accurate timetable for his return. When he does suit up again, it’s likely he’ll be on a minutes restriction, Connor Letourneau of the San Fransisco Chronicle writes.

“It’s something we’ll consult the training staff on,” coach Steve Kerr said of Durant’s potential return. “I imagine we’ll ease him back by playing him shorter minutes to start, so he can build up his rhythm and his conditioning.”

It was previously reported that the Warriors are cautiously optimistic about Durant returning to the court before the playoffs begin. However, Kerr said he hasn’t considered how he’ll manage the rotation once that happens.

“That obviously has a domino effect on the entire rotation,” Kerr said. “When we get to that point, we’ll figure that out. But it’s not something I’m giving a lot of thought to right now because he’s still at least a couple weeks away.”

Over the last few days, the 2013/14 MVP has been able to run, dunk and shoot jump shots during and after practices. Letourneau notes that it’s unlikely Durant returns to the floor during the week of April 3. The ensuing week is the final portion of the NBA season. Golden State plays the Jazz on April 10 and its final game is against the Lakers on April 12.

Warriors Optimistic Durant Can Return Before Playoffs

March 22nd, 2017 at 3:22pm CST by Luke Adams

There is “cautious optimism” within the Warriors organization that Kevin Durant will be able to get back on the court before the end of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chris Haynes. There are no guarantees yet, but the club is encouraged by the progress Durant has made in his recovery, per the ESPN duo.

It has been three weeks since the Warriors announced Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise. At the time, Golden State suggested that the star forward would be re-evaluated in four weeks with an update coming at that time, so that’s still a week away. Still, sources tell Stein and Haynes that Durant is about halfway through his rehabilitation, and it will now be important to see how he responds to increased intensity of that rehab work.

The Warriors lost five of seven games after losing Durant, but have rebounded since then, winning their last five. Although Golden State may not need Durant to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, it would still be a great sign for his chances of making a major impact in the playoffs if he can get back on the court for at least a couple regular season contests in April.

Steve Kerr Disputes Report Of Warriors’ Anger Toward OKC

March 20th, 2017 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

A report from Chris Haynes of ESPN.com late on Sunday night suggested that members of the Warriors’ organization were “furious” and “bewildered” by the Thunder’s treatment of Kevin Durant leading up to Durant’s Oklahoma City return last month. According to Haynes, the Warriors felt that the Thunder’s decision not to more publicly address Durant’s return and thank him for his time in OKC – either through the media or via the in-game operations staff – played a part in creating an “unsettling, hostile atmosphere” during the Warriors’ visit to OKC in February.

Asked today about that ESPN report, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr disputed the idea that the franchise was upset or displeased by Thunder management or ownership for their handling of the Durant situation, as Anthony Slater of The San Jose Mercury News details.

“I don’t agree,” Kerr said. “Sam Presti’s a friend of mine. I know Clay Bennett. It’s a class organization all the way, so I don’t really pay any attention to a story like that unless there’s an actual name name that’s put on it. I assume it’s just sources. Is it ‘sources’? I don’t know who that is. It’s nobody with the Warriors. We have great respect for them. Sam’s been a friend of mine forever. They’re first-class, so I don’t know where that comes from.”

The Warriors will make their second trip to Oklahoma City tonight to play the Thunder, and Durant won’t be active this time around, as he continues to rehab his troublesome knee. Still, even with Durant and Russell Westbrook not going head-to-head on the court, there will certainly be no love lost between the two teams — Chesapeake Arena figures to be an especially hostile environment for the Warriors in the wake of Haynes’ latest report.

Steve Kerr Offers Health Update On Kevin Durant

March 18th, 2017 at 8:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Durant is making progress in his effort to return from a knee injury, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com.

Speaking to reporters before tonight’s game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Durant has progressed from shooting in a wheelchair to standstill shooting and is now able to handle jump shots.

Durant was diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise after injuring his left knee in a February 28th game. He was first diagnosed with a hyperextended knee before an MRI showed the real extent of the damage. Doctors said they planned to re-evaluate him after four weeks, which would be 10 days from now.

Golden State has gone 4-4 without Durant and leads San Antonio by just a game and a half coming into tonight’s action.

Community Shootaround: Will Cavs And Warriors Hang Onto No. 1 Seeds?

March 9th, 2017 at 10:19pm CST by Milo Taibi

Following tonight’s loss to the Pistons, the Cavs are 42-21- having played to a .500 record over their last 10 games. The return of J.R. Smith bolsters the team’s depth, but Tyronn Lue’s squad continues to miss Kevin Love‘s presence in their rotation. The Celtics aren’t far behind Cleveland’s trail, sitting two games behind the Cavs for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

It’s been a similar story for Golden State, whose fourth quarter struggles have been well-publicized. The Warriors hardly have a comfortable hold of the Western Conference’s #1 seed, as San Antonio is riding a torrid 9-1 streak. The Warriors have long clinched a playoff spot, but Steve Kerr said he isn’t obsessed with the top seed.

“We still have the No. 1 seed, but I won’t run guys ragged to get it,” Kerr told Connor Letourneau of SF Gate. “We have to manage this stretch right here and get through this week.”

Fox Sports editor Brett Pollakoff has recently predicted the Spurs to overtake Golden State for the top seed, citing the Warriors’ difficult schedule through the rest of the regular season.

“The Warriors lead the Spurs by 2.5 games in the standings but are playing without Kevin Durant for at least a little while longer and have an absolutely brutal schedule this week, which ends with a game in San Antonio on Saturday,” Pollakoff writes. “The Spurs might be able to make up some ground during that stretch and are capable of playing consistently enough to overtake Golden State for the West’s No. 1 seed.”

Five Thirty Eight currently gives the Warriors a 79% chance of hanging onto the #1 seed, and Cleveland a 40% chance. We want to hear your opinion: Do you think each team will hold onto the #1 seed? If not, what will get in their way? Are the injuries to Kevin Durant and Kevin Love ultimately too much to overcome?

Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Pacific Notes: Durant, Nwaba, Ingram, Kings

March 9th, 2017 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Although the Warriors have a “high level” of optimism that Kevin Durant will be able to get back on the court before the end of the regular season, Durant said that he isn’t even thinking about or targeting a specific return date yet.

“I know that’s what everybody wants to know, and is wondering,” said the Warriors forward, per Sam Amick of USA Today. “But whenever my body tells me I’ll be ready to play then I’ll be ready to play. I’m not really thinking in that frame of mind.”

Here’s more from around the Pacific division:

The Lakers haven’t made a final decision yet, but with David Nwaba‘s 10-day contract set to expire tonight, head coach Luke Walton says he has been impressed by the young swingman, who has done everything he can to earn a second deal (Twitter link via Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times). If the club doesn’t re-sign Nwaba, it will have an opening on its 15-man roster.
The Lakers‘ DeMarcus Cousins talks with Sacramento last month reportedly fell apart when L.A. refused to include Brandon Ingram. With that in mind, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider link) examine whether Ingram, whose production this season has been modest, is a future Lakers star or a potential trade candidate. As Pelton observes, there are plenty of examples of teams that waited too long to trade former lottery picks, so if the Lakers aren’t entirely sold on Ingram’s star potential, it could make sense to consider trading him this summer.
The new-look Kings are still a work in progress, particularly on offense, writes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. As Jones outlines, the offense was centered around DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay in the first half, but with neither player on the floor for the Kings anymore, the retooled squad sometimes looks like “five guys on the court just trying not to step on each other’s toes.”

Pacific Notes: Temple, Labissiere, Crawford

March 5th, 2017 at 7:10pm CST by Austin Kent

For the first time since his January injury, Kings veteran Garrett Temple went full speed in practice. The 30-year-old has been cautious with the injury, Jonathan Santiago of Kings.com writes, but finally found himself comfortable enough to return to the court.

“I’ve been out longer than I guess expected just because I know that I wanted to make sure that I got it all the way right,” Temple said this week before suiting up for the Kings in Sunday’s contest. “The setback I had last time was during the first day of practice. So after I got through my first day of practice yesterday without any other effects – a nice long two-hour practice – it helped my confidence.”

In 49 contests for the Kings this season, Temple had posted 7.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

There’s more out of the Pacific Division:

Thrust into a larger role ever since the Kings traded DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento big man Skal Labissiere has run with the opportunity. Shahbaz Khan of Kings.com spoke with the rookie about his experience during the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Though he’ll turn 37 years old this week, Clippers guard Jamal Crawford would like to play three or four more seasons, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports. Crawford is averaging 12.3 points per game in his 17th season.
The Warriors will need to re-adapt to life without Kevin Durant but Zaza Pachulia has made an effort to come to terms with it, Steve Aschburner of NBA.com writes. “If I did something on purpose or even if I had flopped, that probably would have made me feel worse,” Pachulia said, “But it wasn’t even a flop. I got pulled. I fell. Nobody had control over it.“
The lawyer of Matt Barnes requested a court date that doesn’t coincide with the NBA Finals, Rebecca Rosenberg of the New York Post writes. Barnes recently signed with the reigning two-time Western Conference champion Warriors.
The return of Chris Paul has thrown the Clippers bench into disarray, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. With Paul back in the starting five, Austin Rivers has had to slide back into the second unit. “Things like this happen,” backup center Marreese Speights said, “But we still got time to get it right before the playoffs. We’ll be all right.”