In game five of the NBA finals Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant was cleared to play after suffering a strained calf early in the NBA playoffs. During game five, Durant got injured again, this time he ruptured his Achilles tendon. The injury was a devastating injury for Durant heading into free agency.
Durant was due to test the market and maybe play elsewhere next season, but with a significant achilles injury, it might make some teams pause. The superstar will reportedly miss all of next season to rehab the injury.
Even with the severe injury, some teams are willing to offer Durant still a max deal. The Athletic’s David Aldridge has reported the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Knicks would still offer him a max deal. Also, the Warriors are set to offer Durant a max contract.
So it looks like Durant still will get a ton interest even though he is still expected to miss all of next season. When the injury was first announced, many thought it would scare some teams away because achilles is a severe injury and it takes a lot out of a player. Quite a few NBA players have had the injury and never came back the same.
However, a player of Durant’s skills is worth the risk of a max contract. Even though he might not be as explosive as he once was, Durant is still close to 7-foot tall and can shot over everybody, so he will have that once he comes back. Durant will have to learn how to play closer to the basket and add some more strength to play in the post more.
The only thing that might change in free agency is players like Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving who were rumored to team up with Durant somewhere might not want to waste a year waiting for him to come back. Also, Klay Thompson, who tore his ACL during game six of the NBA Finals is heading in to free agency. It has always seemed likely that Klay would remain with the Warriors and rumor has it that the Warriors will offer him a max contract as well.
The wild world that is NBA Free agency will pretty much be the same as it was before the injuries with teams offering Durant a max contract. With the wrapping up and free agency starting soon, brace yourself for wild NBA off-season.
