Kevin Durant won’t be making his Nets debut this summer. He and the team have decided to continue planning for Durant to return from his Achilles injury to start the 2020/21 season, with the star forward confirming earlier this month that his season is over.
As such, there’s no need for Durant – or teammate Kyrie Irving, who is also sidelined with an injury – to make a decision on whether or not to participate in the NBA’s restart plan. However, during an appearance on the Dawg Talk podcast this week, Durant admitted he’s not sure he’d want to play even if he were healthy.
“I feel, me right now, I probably wouldn’t have played because the unknown going into that situation looks crazy right now, seeing so many new (COVID-19) cases,” Durant said, per Alex Smith of SNY.tv. “It’s just so unpredictable. It’s easy for me to say right now because I’m injured but I probably wouldn’t have went down there.”
Of the four players who have voluntarily opted out so far, three – Davis Bertans, Trevor Ariza, and Willie Cauley-Stein – are on teams that are either outside of the playoff picture or hold a lower seed. That’s the case for the Nets as well — they have a half-game lead on Orlando for the No. 7 spot in the East. No Brooklyn players have opted out yet, but Durant said he’d support his teammates no matter what they decide.
“If the guys feel safe enough to go play, that’s cool. I’m with them,” said Durant. “If they don’t feel like they should go down there and play or don’t feel safe, I’m with them too. I’m all about what the group wants. If it’s good for the betterment of the whole group then I’m cool with it.
“I probably would have chilled. Obviously, I would have talked to my teammates and consulted with my guys and actually really went over it for the last month and a half, but me, my gut would have told me, ‘Nah, I wouldn’t want to go down there, especially after three months off.'”
Any player who voluntarily opts out of participating this summer will forfeit between approximately 9-15% of his salary for the 2019/20 season. His team will also be eligible to sign a substitute player to replace him, even without an open roster spot.
However, players who are sidelined with injuries can’t be replaced by a substitute player, which will limit the Nets’ roster flexibility — in addition to Durant and Irving, Nicolas Claxton will also be on the shelf with an injury this summer, leaving the team with just 12 healthy players on its 15-man roster. Two-way players Chris Chiozza and Jeremiah Martin should be available to help provide depth.
It’s a shortened run to win a title, but it’s not that short. I count 28 to 43 games plus a runup longer than it should be, all without a normal routine. The Nets may delay making a big effort until next year still. If Dinwiddie was putting off making 100% effort as the year went on, I doubt that will change. He is one to watch though because he can take advantage of the unattentive.
Durant often plays without enthusiasm… he would be more lacking than usual if he did show. No big loss
Who cares what he thinks. He can’t play. Go home and count your money. Instead of talking about the protestors. Instead of talking about race relations. Instead of talking about why America is the worst in the WORLD. When it comes to #Covid-19. He wants to talk about not playing if he was able to in Orlando bubble. This is the subject he chooses. OK this …. this is why Kyrie and KD are NO ALPHAS
The 16 players stat may reflect players tested since june 23 but what about those who were tested prior and are privately quarantined? What about staff numbers? I love how the sports world and Florida share and manipulate statistics to fit their narrative and cause. Disgusted.
This guy is probably the most insecure superstar we have ever seen in any sport
Why is the sky always falling for this poor soul?
Who hurt this man?
Watching this quarter billion project with the Nets unravel will be a treat
KD is such a waste of great talent!