Following the surgery that hopefully repaired his ruptured Achilles tendon, Kevin Durant reportedly received a visitor aside from Kyrie Irving. Fellow Warrior Draymond Green planed in from San Francisco to check on KD and purportedly to talk him out of leaving the Dub Nation.
That was the report from The New York Post, which claimed Green showing up where KD is recovering brought back memories of the past. When the Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, it was Green who led the effort to lure Durant away from Oklahoma. His teammates followed suit and visited Durant in a rented Hamptons place. It was a spirited recruitment then that won over KD.
And why not as the same report indicated the Warriors moved as one to convince Durant he's got a home waiting in Golden State. Possibly, the Warriors are employing the same tact to keep the team intact, and that includes Durant.
By June 30, KD is expected to decline his $31 million option with the Dubs and enter free agent, per the Mercury News. Rumors have it the Los Angeles Clippers, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are fighting to land him. The last two teams, however, enjoy an advantage if the reports are true that Durant plans to team up with Irving. The former Cavs is almost certain to leave the Boston Celtics and looking to sign up with any of the two NY-based teams.
The Warriors, however, have made clear that they want KD to stay as declared by head coach Steve Kerr.
"We all want him back. We think this is a great situation for him and vice-versa. Hopefully he's back and we'll all give him any advice and counsel he needs," Kerr was reported as saying, adding that the final decision will be made by Durant though.
And seemingly not wanting to leave KD's decision to fate, Green took it upon himself to convince KD that preserving the winning Warriors core is the best available for him, and for everyone. If that is the case, Green is keeping his silence at the moment.
According to NBC Sports, Green's NYC trip was for personal matters. The plan was to head to Hamptons for a friend's engagement party, the report added.
The Green camp further explained that recruitment is far from the All-Star's mind at the moment, adding that "KD doesn't have to be recruited by Draymond after being there three years."
The alibi, no doubt, is a good cover. Green himself has to secure a spot with the Warriors prior to becoming a free agent in 2020. Reports said the GSW would make him stay for four seasons more with a super-max worth $100 million. So with or without KD, Green is bound to stay a happy Warrior.
