By now, NBA fans have collectively looked at the myriad of the open free agency period at a glance, and have had a chance to take a step back, breathe, and process just what exactly has happened to the free agency picture set to unravel itself. A somber air has descended on the NBA universe with Warriors fans and fans of Kevin Durant’s impact on basketball itself feeling dejected over the ruptured Achilles suffered by the 10-time All-Star, 2-time champion, and 2-time Finals MVP.
However, Durant’s surgery went swimmingly, as proclaimed in his most recent Instagram post. He and his camp have been led on to believe that the road to recovery is just another setback to comeback in the superstar’s turbulent life and career, and indeed a comeback it will be for Durant.
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The thing is, the NBA business has always been wrapped up in this ideology of career-altering tendon tears to be the No. 1 looming fear factor when determining if it is safe or not to take a chance on “damaged goods”. Guys who were accustomed to putting up gaudy numbers in prior years leading up to their deteriorating health are scoffed at when max contract debates arise.
Take Durant’s first-year accomplice DeMarcus Cousins into consideration here. A proverbial 25 ppg back-to-the-basket center that averaged a double-double was a lock as the best center in the game. One simple chase of an offensive rebound resulted in an Achilles rupture and as he became a free agent in the months after, 29 teams willfully repealed any advancements of agreements to sign the 5-time All-Star. In an ironic twist, Cousins was offered a measly 1-year deal from the Warriors to solidify Golden State’s run at a three-peat with the final piece necessary to complete their championship puzzle: a reliable center.
NBA fans seldom forget the evening that Cousins was signed the Warriors, but broadly asked one question: did everyone refuse to jump the gun to sign Cousins because of risk of re-injury, all while ignoring the productivity and the type of effort he would bring for all 48 minutes every night?
It should be left unmentioned on how Durant impacts his team — better yet, the entire league — whenever he is on the floor. A pioneer of sorts to a new style a play barely a decade old, a style of play for athletes gifted with a lengthy wingspan and tall, slender figures to be a versatile threat to not only be as effective as a wing shooter and slasher but effortlessly guard all positions. He’s been a lesson to up-and-coming AAU talents, high school standouts and collegiate prospects alike, by teaching them the importance of diversifying your game if your body frame matches that of the now-defined stretch big in the current NBA.
It has been reported that only three teams want to take a low-risk, high reward gamble on a man widely depicted as the best player on the planet and offer him a max contract this offseason. Aside from Golden State possibly keeping him around, let’s take a look at the suitors Durant would most likely settle for as soon as July 1st comes around.
KD’s Impact On The Free Agent Market: His Career
I mean, we are still talking about the most dangerous scorer on the face of the earth in KD, and a player of his caliber is undoubtedly deserving of a max deal. But the offering of max contract money to a great-but-slightly-aging all-star that will miss the entire 2019-20 season can sound a little intimidating to a team’s cap situation, regardless if they can handle the cap hit or not.
Also, if you were to account the recovery time it takes to completely heal an Achilles tear and Durant’s return to what he has been so far in his career, you may be paying a player like that so much money only to have him potentially underperform for the rest of his career. Yes, once(or if) he returns to full health, he will be 32 entering what may be the tail end of a prosperous career. Yet, despite the egregious nature of Durant’s injury, three teams do not appear to sound afraid to deal Durant that frugal contract.
The Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets have emerged as suitors to KD upon hearing the news on his injury. Granted, Durant can still opt into his $31.5 million players option with Golden State in the efforts to sign a max deal. The Clippers present Durant with the opportunity to lead a young and budding roster mixed with veteran leadership and talented pieces both in their starting 5 and bench. Plus, he would have that full year of rehabilitation in a conducive environment, all without belonging to that other, more dysfunctional side of Los Angeles basketball.
But then again, there’s been year-round speculation that Durant views New York City as a business venture and primary destination, but not for the side of the Big Apple that you think. Whatever team Durant chooses to go to if he leaves the Warriors this offseason, teams looking at Durant will likely be rebuilding for the 2020-2021 season and beyond.
KD’s Impact On The Free Agent Market: Other Notable Free Agents Affected
On the topic of New York, uniting with his good friend Kyrie Irving would not seem that bad of an idea. It is very much so expected that Irving’s days in Celtic Green are just about done, considering that he recently opted out of his player’s option with the Celtics to become an unrestricted free agent. It has been reported by multiple sources and some certain TV personalities that Irving is leaning towards heading back home to the tri-state area to join the Brooklyn Nets, and would love the opportunity to play with Durant.
But after catching wind of Durant’s injury and its severity, it is very unclear as to what Irving wants to do once July 1st hits. For all we know, Irving could do a complete 180 and reunite with his buddy LeBron with the LA Lakers. This also affects the Nets’ current all-star in D’Angelo Russell, who was predicted to be on the trade block a couple of weeks ago. The possibility for the Nets to have either two All-Stars, or none at all is a real one.
This affects other free agent destinations, especially the New York Knicks. The Knicks were long looked at to be the next franchise to host a superteam, and with the 3rd overall pick in the 2019 draft, they still possess some bargaining chips such as a couple of max free agent slots.
But now, with Durant’s injury and a lowered chance of landing Anthony Davis this offseason since AD is looking to primarily be a Laker, the hype for the Mecca may have completely died down. They have the money and the market to possibly lure Kawhi Leonard if he leaves Toronto, after getting them to their first NBA Finals. Still, little is known about Kawhi’s wishes once the offseason begins.
Predetermining KD’s effectiveness post-Achilles surgery could all be an improper passing of judgment. There have been some big names that ended up returning to prominence after an Achilles tear. Dominique Wilkins tore his Achilles in his 10th year in the league, and then came back to earn Comeback Player of The Year Honors the year after, averaging 27 points per game.
That is, after all, what NBA fans can only hope for, to see one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game come back after such a gruesome end to his 2018-19 season, all while proving all those who are writing him off, and will write him off, for the remaining and ensuing calendar year to come.
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