THE IMPLICATIONS OF KEVIN DURANT’S LIKELY ACHILIES TEAR.
The Golden State Warriors fear Kevin Durant has torn his achilles. If this is the case, the implications of this injury go far beyond just this Finals series. Let’s have a look at what KD’s likely 12 month injury will cause:
1. New York Knick’s’ fans look away now because this isn’t good for your franchise. The Knicks are hot favorites to sign Durant but this changes things drastically. In an ideal world, the Knicks wanted to sign Durant in free agency for the max, and use their number 3 overall pick in this upcoming draft as a centerpiece of a package for New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis. The dream was to pair Davis with Durant, but now this is likely in serious jeopardy, as Durant will not see the floor for at least 12 months, and his production when he returns is unknown.
2. Because of point number 1, Los Angeles Lakers’ fans keep reading because this has inadvertently potentially helped your franchise moving forward. With the hopes and dreams of the Knicks pairing AD and KD likely vanishing, the Knicks will be forced to keep their draft pick and draft another young talent to improve their roster. Trading for Anthony Davis would make no sense, as you’d give away all your assets to build an average team around Davis if you don’t score another big name in free agency. There’s no bigger name in the free agency class than Durant so you’re already behind the eight ball. The Knicks could still trade for Davis, but at that point it would be unlikely, as a mediocre season with the franchise may cause Davis to look elsewhere come free agency in 2020. So what that means is the Los Angeles Lakers could have increased their chances of landing Davis tenfold in the space of 24 hours with the Knicks keeping their pick. As one of his preferred destinations (along with The Knicks), it could now be a matter of when, not if Davis is in purple and gold.
3. Klay Thompson could be massively affected by this injury also. There have been debates on whether Thompson or Durant would have been offered the max this off season, and with Durant most likely not being able to see the floor for a whole season, the Warriors would re-sign Klay. It was understood whoever didn’t get the max offer would leave the Warriors this summer, and this injury may have made up their mind with Durant’s production when he comes back unknown also.
4. Draymond Green is another Warrior that is effected by this. Green becomes a free agent in 2020, and has stated he is looking for as much money as he can. Whether this is in Golden State or not remains to be seen, but that possibility increases ever so slightly with Durant going down if he’s able to have a handshake agreement with the front office and Klay Thompson is happy to keep the core together.
5. Kyrie Irving or any other free agent looking to join forces with Durant could also be affected by this injury. Irving was rumored to be joining KD in New York or Brooklyn, but that could now well and truly be off the table with players going their own ways.
6. The Warriors front office were going to face some tough decisions this off season, but this injury could have made up their mind for them. It’s hard to imagine the Warriors offering Durant a lucrative extension when he can’t contribute for at least a year, his production when he returns is unknown, and there is question marks regarding his overall value was already there as well.
7. Obviously, Durant himself is the most impacted by this injury. In the hopes of helping his team to the ultimate glory, he could have realistically hindered his entire career moving forward. Achilies injuries do not have a good track record when returning in the NBA, and Durant as well as his value could be hurt by this. With one of the biggest basketball decisions he’s going to make coming up, we will likely see who is willing to risk it all in the hopes Durant will come back just as strong once he recovers.
8. With Durant down, you’d be hard pressed to bet against the Toronto Raptors winning the NBA championship from this moment on. He’s definitely out for the remainder of this series, and although the Warriors have extended this series, it’s hard to see them overcoming this 3-1 deflect without a completely heathy roster. The Raptors would also have the decider on their home floor, which usually helps in Game 7s. The Warriors live to fight another day, but it’s likely delaying the inevitable.
The Golden State Warriors fear Kevin Durant has torn his achilles. If this is the case, the implications of this injury go far beyond just this Finals series. Let’s have a look at what KD’s likely 12 month injury will cause:
1. New York Knick’s’ fans look away now because this isn’t good for your franchise. The Knicks are hot favorites to sign Durant but this changes things drastically. In an ideal world, the Knicks wanted to sign Durant in free agency for the max, and use their number 3 overall pick in this upcoming draft as a centerpiece of a package for New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis. The dream was to pair Davis with Durant, but now this is likely in serious jeopardy, as Durant will not see the floor for at least 12 months, and his production when he returns is unknown.
2. Because of point number 1, Los Angeles Lakers’ fans keep reading because this has inadvertently potentially helped your franchise moving forward. With the hopes and dreams of the Knicks pairing AD and KD likely vanishing, the Knicks will be forced to keep their draft pick and draft another young talent to improve their roster. Trading for Anthony Davis would make no sense, as you’d give away all your assets to build an average team around Davis if you don’t score another big name in free agency. There’s no bigger name in the free agency class than Durant so you’re already behind the eight ball. The Knicks could still trade for Davis, but at that point it would be unlikely, as a mediocre season with the franchise may cause Davis to look elsewhere come free agency in 2020. So what that means is the Los Angeles Lakers could have increased their chances of landing Davis tenfold in the space of 24 hours with the Knicks keeping their pick. As one of his preferred destinations (along with The Knicks), it could now be a matter of when, not if Davis is in purple and gold.
3. Klay Thompson could be massively affected by this injury also. There have been debates on whether Thompson or Durant would have been offered the max this off season, and with Durant most likely not being able to see the floor for a whole season, the Warriors would re-sign Klay. It was understood whoever didn’t get the max offer would leave the Warriors this summer, and this injury may have made up their mind with Durant’s production when he comes back unknown also.
4. Draymond Green is another Warrior that is effected by this. Green becomes a free agent in 2020, and has stated he is looking for as much money as he can. Whether this is in Golden State or not remains to be seen, but that possibility increases ever so slightly with Durant going down if he’s able to have a handshake agreement with the front office and Klay Thompson is happy to keep the core together.
5. Kyrie Irving or any other free agent looking to join forces with Durant could also be affected by this injury. Irving was rumored to be joining KD in New York or Brooklyn, but that could now well and truly be off the table with players going their own ways.
6. The Warriors front office were going to face some tough decisions this off season, but this injury could have made up their mind for them. It’s hard to imagine the Warriors offering Durant a lucrative extension when he can’t contribute for at least a year, his production when he returns is unknown, and there is question marks regarding his overall value was already there as well.
7. Obviously, Durant himself is the most impacted by this injury. In the hopes of helping his team to the ultimate glory, he could have realistically hindered his entire career moving forward. Achilies injuries do not have a good track record when returning in the NBA, and Durant as well as his value could be hurt by this. With one of the biggest basketball decisions he’s going to make coming up, we will likely see who is willing to risk it all in the hopes Durant will come back just as strong once he recovers.
8. With Durant down, you’d be hard pressed to bet against the Toronto Raptors winning the NBA championship from this moment on. He’s definitely out for the remainder of this series, and although the Warriors have extended this series, it’s hard to see them overcoming this 3-1 deflect without a completely heathy roster. The Raptors would also have the decider on their home floor, which usually helps in Game 7s. The Warriors live to fight another day, but it’s likely delaying the inevitable.