The Golden State Warriors are unsure of Kevin Durant's plans in free agency. If the two-time Finals MVP ultimately leaves the Warriors, though, they clearly believe it won't be due to any lingering frustration gleaned from how his return from injury in the NBA Finals was handled.
During an appearance on The TK Show, Golden State coach Steve Kerr responded to rumors that Durant is unhappy with his team's training staff, insisting the decision to play him in Game 5 of the NBA Finals was one made in collaboration with three separate parties.
“No we haven't heard anything like that,” Kerr said when asked if Durant is unhappy. “We had not only our staff, but Kevin's own personal specialist, and then a third independent specialist all clear him to play.”
Durant was brilliant in the first quarter and opening moments of the second quarter of Game 5, scoring 11 points, connecting on all three of his triples, and providing threats on both ends of the floor his Warriors replacements couldn't come close to matching. His fairytale comeback ended in devastating fashion shortly thereafter, when Durant isolated against Serge Ibaka on the right wing and went down in a heap, grabbing at his lower right leg. He was later diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon, putting his status in doubt for 2019-20.
Durant had been sidelined for the previous month of play after straining his right calf in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers are the other teams known to interest Durant in free agency. Despite the chance he misses all of next season and never regains the explosion that's helped propel him to the top of the game's individual hierarchy, Durant will choose from his pick of max-level contract offers from every team he considers in free agency.
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