Kevin Durant's sudden Achilles injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, shockwaves that will undoubtedly rattle the scope of free agency moving forward. Among those most impacted by his injury, is Kyrie Irving, who was viewed as a potential package deal for teams with two max slots that could use a superstar pairing.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on ESPN's Golic & Wingo (h/t Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily) that Irving could go at it solo if Durant has to redshirt his 13th season in the league while recovering from his injury.
“I think the one player it really impacts is Kyrie Irving,” said Wojnarowski. “Because both the Knicks and the Nets hoped that Kyrie and KD could be a package deal, that they could sign them. Both [teams] are in a position to sign them. And Kyrie Irving certainly has a significant interest in being back in New York. If he leaves Boston, that’s the top of his list and he, I’ve been told, is really focused on Brooklyn if he was to sign with one of the New York teams.
“So now the question is, for the Nets, for the Knicks, is would you sign Kyrie Irving as a solo act or would Kevin Durant want to come and essentially be a red shirt.”
Durant's injury surely impacts those teams that expected to have a direct and immediate impact upon signing two superstar-caliber players, as the process could be slowed upon signing both Irving and Durant, or somehow force teams like the Knicks, Nets, or even the L.A. Clippers to pair Irving with Anthony Davis or a different max-eligible player.
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