NBA 2018-2019

[OttoinGrotto]

That brings up one more interesting (albeit remote scenario). Say a team signs the injured KD. Then spends all of 2019/2020 tanking and gutting the team. Then you have KD, a top 5 pick, and cap space for 20/21

This 100% sounds like a Knicks thing to do.

 

[OrangeDW]

Playing devils advocate here, but Kawhi definately isn't 100 percent. What's the chance he blows out his quadriceps tendon? Should he be playing?

Yeah, that’s where the guys watching him day in and day out have to know what the player can and can’t do and what the injury risk is.

If it’s an injury that can’t really get any worse and can’t do additional damage that you can play through, that’s one thing.

But if it’s something that could be career altering? Just not worth it for anybody IMO.

 

[Alsacs]

Yeah, that’s where the guys watching him day in and day out have to know what the player can and can’t do and what the injury risk is.

If it’s an injury that can’t really get any worse and can’t do additional damage that you can play through, that’s one thing.

But if it’s something that could be career altering? Just not worth it for anybody IMO.

if he ruptured his Achilles it’s definitely going to alter his career.
I mean it won’t be like Grant Hill and the microfacture surgery but he is going to lose explosion off the bounce.

As long as the Warriors offer him the max I won’t feel bad for Durant. The extra money from the Warriors compensates him if he isn’t the same.
Plus nobody questions his legacy now.

 

[OrangeDW]

if he ruptured his Achilles it’s definitely going to alter his career.
I mean it won’t be like Grant Hill and the microfacture surgery but he is going to lose explosion off the bounce.

As long as the Warriors offer him the max I won’t feel bad for Durant. The extra money from the Warriors compensates him if he isn’t the same.
Plus nobody questions his legacy now.

He’s 30 and in his prime and arguably the best player in the league. No worse than top 3. I just want to watch him play at his peak. Sucks. Probably won’t see him at that level ever again.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

So, what do people think?

Durant opting in, or opting out?

 

[Cusefan0307]

if he ruptured his Achilles it’s definitely going to alter his career.
I mean it won’t be like Grant Hill and the microfacture surgery but he is going to lose explosion off the bounce.

As long as the Warriors offer him the max I won’t feel bad for Durant. The extra money from the Warriors compensates him if he isn’t the same.
Plus nobody questions his legacy now.

He's only 30. This isn't like when Kobe tore his at 34. Dominique Wilkins tore his at 32 and averaged 30 PPG the next season and 26 the season after that.

 

[Arangeman]

So, what do people think?

Durant opting in, or opting out?

Opt out and take the max

 

[Knicks411]

So, what do people think?

Durant opting in, or opting out?

Bobby Marks said he talked to 3 teams that would still max him (bet my team is one of them!) so initially I thought opt in, but I could see him opting out now

 

[Melancer46]

So, what do people think?

Durant opting in, or opting out?

It would take a special level of stupidity (or just not caring about money) for him to opt in. If he wants to be on a one year deal, he can opt out and sign a bigger one.

Or he can just go sign the same max deal he wanted to sign 24 hours ago.

Opting in shouldn’t be considered at all.

 

[Alsacs]

Bobby Marks said he talked to 3 teams that would still max him (bet my team is one of them!) so initially I thought opt in, but I could see him opting out now

He isn’t opting in. If he feels betrayed by the Warriors medical staff he is gonzo.
If he doesn’t feel betrayed then the Warriors will offer him the max and he just sits out the year and comes back in a year.
If he feels betrayed then the Knicks, Nets, Clippers all will offer him 4 years 164 million.

It’s just now how does Durant feel towards the Warrior medical staff and the fact he went to NY for medical evaluation isn’t a good look for Golden State IMO.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

I’m no doctor or NBA front office guy or player, but it seems to me that it’s common sense that if a guy can’t go 100% in practice, then he can’t play in a playoff game.

If the reports are true that he was limited in practice, seems really irresponsible and wrong to put him out there.

And anyone who was questioning KD isnt worth paying attention to. If you’re hurt, you’re hurt.

Players typically say that no one is 100% come playoff time.
Players often play hurt. It's not as if anyone can say it was all team management or even fans or media putting pressure on KD to play. If he's a competitor, he wanted to be a part of that championship series. That's why Cousins came back, even though everyone assumed the Warriors were going to win anyway.

Kawhi didn't play last year for the Spurs because he didn't have the confidence in his quad. Supposedly. You have to rely on both the medicals and the player's own assessment. KD knew what was at risk, with his upcoming contract situation.

And he looked pretty good in those early minutes. Maybe all the tests in the world just can't predict something like this. Remember how Mariano Rivera ripped his achilles while shagging balls in the outfield? Something he did all the time. He didn't even do anything super drastic to injure himself. With KD, if he was really dealing with a "calf strain," how do you predict an achilles rupture? It's just as likely that all the prep and treatment and unusual exercises KD did to deal with the calf are what strained the achilles. Who could know?

 

[Briancuse]

if he ruptured his Achilles it’s definitely going to alter his career.
I mean it won’t be like Grant Hill and the microfacture surgery but he is going to lose explosion off the bounce.

As long as the Warriors offer him the max I won’t feel bad for Durant. The extra money from the Warriors compensates him if he isn’t the same.
Plus nobody questions his legacy now.

He should take the 31 mil prove he's healthy for a few months and go to free agency.

 

[OrangeDW]

I think Jalen Rose nailed it:

 

[Briancuse]

So, what do people think?

Durant opting in, or opting out?

Take the 31 mil play for a few months and try again.

 

[Melancer46]

He should take the 31 mil prove he's healthy for a few months and go to free agency.

Why wouldn’t he just take like $40 million or whatever the Warriors can offer him instead? $31 million is less than every other team will offer even if just for one year.

 

[OrangeDW]

He's only 30. This isn't like when Kobe tore his at 34. Dominique Wilkins tore his at 32 and averaged 30 PPG the next season and 26 the season after that.

Thats crazy about Dominique. Isiah Thomas tore his at the same age and retired.

It’s hard to know how someone will come back, but torn Achilles seems like one of the tougher ones.

 

[Briancuse]

Why wouldn’t he just take like $40 million or whatever the Warriors can offer him instead? $31 million is less than every other team will offer even if just for one year.

What if they aren't willing to give him a max deal. This is a huge injury?

 

[Melancer46]

What if they aren't willing to give him a max deal. This is a huge injury?

Then he can sign that deal with some other team if he wants. He’ll have numerous teams offering him whatever he wants still.

 

[Alsacs]

What if they aren't willing to give him a max deal. This is a huge injury?

If the Warriors won’t give Durant a max contract their standing within the league with players takes a giant hit and I mean a GIANT hit.
If Durant wants no part of them then it doesn’t.
The Warriors owe him the max offer.
Durant doesn’t have to take it though.

He isn’t opting in unless he tells them to trade and he wouldn’t do that anyway. Pretty much every team would give him a max deal. His max is 4 years 164 with other teams and with Golden State 5 years 212 million.
He isn’t taking a 10 million dollar a year haircut to opt-in.

 

[PoppyHart]

If he opts in to the final year, he risks a setback, or maybe he heals at Jacoby Ellsbury-type pace and then his market value tumbles. He'll certainly take a max deal this offseason.

 

[Knicks411]

If the Warriors won’t give Durant a max contract their standing within the league with players takes a giant hit and I mean a GIANT hit.
If Durant wants no part of them then it doesn’t.
The Warriors owe him the max offer.
Durant doesn’t have to take it though.

He isn’t opting in unless he tells them to trade and he wouldn’t do that anyway. Pretty much every team would give him a max deal. His max is 4 years 164 with other teams and with Golden State 5 years 212 million.
He isn’t taking a 10 million dollar a year haircut to opt-in.

I don't know. Unless the medical team was really negligent, and I don't see any evidence they were (did I miss something?) I don't think they need to max him to save face or anything. They took care of Iggy. They're about to take care of Klay. They took care of Steph. Their standing is pretty good.

 

[Alsacs]

I don't know. Unless the medical team was really negligent, and I don't see any evidence they were (did I miss something?) I don't think they need to max him to save face or anything. They took care of Iggy. They're about to take care of Klay. They took care of Steph. Their standing is pretty good.

Jalen Rose take( post 3813 above) on this situation would disagree with but your opinion could be right.

 

[Knicks411]

Jalen Rose take( post 3813 above) on this situation would disagree with but your opinion could be right.

I mean I am just a guy, I have no real idea here. I do like the fact that Jalen Rose is on the other side of me though

 

[Alsacs]

I mean I am just a guy, I have no real idea here. I do like the fact that Jalen Rose is on the other side of me though

I just think if the Warriors didn’t offer Durant the 5 year max after him coming back early from his injury is bad optics.
All it costs the Warriors is luxury tax money as well.
If they get Durant for 5 years as well that is a win for them.
If all Durant cares about is legacy he now can stay with Golden State and the perception of his importance isn’t questioned now.


Also we have no clue if Durant favors the Knicks, Nets or Clippers if he wants to leave.

 

[MikeSU02]

I don't know. Unless the medical team was really negligent, and I don't see any evidence they were (did I miss something?) I don't think they need to max him to save face or anything. They took care of Iggy. They're about to take care of Klay. They took care of Steph. Their standing is pretty good.

It was readily apparent KD wasn't right from tip off, regardless of him making threes. He was laboring severely.

Whatever happened, it's a huge, huge issue.

I would be surprised if the NBAPA doesn't eventually get involved in this.