Injury adds more intrigue to upcoming free agency
The NBA Finals are not basketball's biggest show of the summer. That's counter-intuitive. It makes no sense. How can it be? But it be.
The NBA free-agency period, which tips off June 30, for several years has trumped the Finals as the hotter topic. Some of that is due to Warrior/ LeBron excess. There's been scant drama leading up to the Finals in recent years and scant drama once they arrive. It's far more interesting to ponder the eventual destination of Kevin Durant or LeBron James or Paul George or Anthony Davis.
Far more interesting and more than a little screwy. The main reason to care where Durant or LeBron hangs his shingle is because they tilt the NBA's balance of power. And we've turned it into a chicken vs. egg debate. Fans wait with bated breath on a July 1 free-agent decision more than they are consumed with a June 1 game verdict.
And such upsidedownness was on full display Monday night, when Durant hopped a couple of times, then fell to the floor with an apparent torn Achilles tendon. After the initial shock — either of seeing a superstar crippled or the Toronto fan base lose its soul with boisterous cheering for Durant's misfortune — the first thought for many of us was not what this would do to the rest of the series. Our first thought was, what will this do to Durant's impending free agency?
The series, we sort of know. In four games with no Durant, the Warriors trailed the Raptors three games to one, and Toronto clearly was the better team. In 14 minutes of Game 5 with Durant, Golden State had a 39-34 lead and seemed quite capable of reeling off three straight victories to resume the dynasty.
But the free agency? A mystery. The injury could mean that Durant doesn't opt out of his contract. Durant could just activate the player option for 2019-20 and play (mostly not play) for the Warriors next season.
Durant on the open market had whetted the whistle of the Knickerbockers and Clippers; even the Lakers and Nets hold out hope, sort of like Cinderella's ugly stepsisters.
The New York Daily News was so aghast at Durant's injury, its always provocative back-page headline Tuesday morning read: “KNICKS LOSE GAME 5: Durant goes down with Achilles injury, ruining EVERYTHING as Warriors avoid elimination”.
Maybe. Maybe not. Durant had the player option in his contract to maintain some financial security in the case of catastrophic injury. But it was almost unnecessary.
Durant, even with an injury that conceivably could sideline him all of next season, will have no shortage of suitors. Every team capable of offering Durant a maximum-length, maximum-money contract will do so. No questions asked. No requirements on time.
Heck, this injury could push Durant further away from the Warriors. He might be a hotter commodity now than next summer, if he misses all of the 201920 season. Next summer, Durant will be nearing 32 and coming off an Achilles tear. Prudent thinking could creep in on franchises. Could creep in on Durant now. Sign big now while he still can.
See what I mean? Talking free agency is much more interesting than talking the rest of this series, which has been a wild affair with constant turns and twists.
You want to talk NBA Finals? OK. Warrior Klay Thompson summarized it best.
“This is the best player in the world,” Thompson said during an emotional post-game press conference. “You could put him on the 30th best team in the league, and that team will make the playoffs. That's how talented he is.
“With him, I believe, we are one of the greatest teams to ever play. Without him, we're a really good team. But you throw Kevin Durant out there, like I said, one of the greatest ever…”
This much we know. The Warriors will be without Durant the rest of this series. After that, stay tuned for the NBA's biggest show of the summer. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.