Following the speculations that Kevin Durant might just come out of the sickbay and suit up for the Brooklyn Nets in mid-season, the team management has confirmed there is little, or no chance at all that such a scenario will play out. The team expects KD to sit out the entire season.
That's according to Nets GM Sean Marks as he clarified that as far as the team is concerned, "the expectation is he'll be out for the year."
"We're not going to plan on him playing ... It's obvious he wants to play, but I think there's more at stake here. This is a long-term approach," Yahoo Sports reported Marks as saying.
The Nets boss also explained that returning to the court for Durant is not an exclusive management decision. In the end, it will depend on how KD will heal back and recover from his torn Achilles. Then he can say if he's ready to handle the ball again.
"Ultimately, Kevin will have a large say in when he comes back and how he's feeling," Marks stressed.
The Nets executive said the decision to sideline Durant is mutually beneficial. KD will have more time to regain his old form and ensure that by not rushing back, he'll get hurt anew and possibly see an abrupt end to his career.
On the part of the Nets, giving Durant a year off to recover fully is tantamount to protecting the team's investment on the two-time Finals MVP. Brooklyn is paying the NBA superstar $164 million on a contract that will stretch four years. So the decision serves the interests of both parties.
What will convince the Nets that Durant is back 100% and ready to roll? The benchmark would be that of Dominique Wilkins, who Yahoo said suffered a similar mishap and returned to the court as if not had happened.
Now while KD is rebuilding his health, the Nets gave assurance that other players will step up and surely one headliner expected to shine is Kyrie Irving, who Brooklyn lured away from the Boston Celtics. Marks has expressed confidence that Irving can rely on the support of Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie.
The GM said there is nothing mediocre in the Nets roster at the moment, so the team is expected to go far into the NBA Season 2019-20. Perhaps far enough that in the event Durant feels healthier around March or April next year, the team is still in contention, and he will see in action.
Meanwhile, Marks said Durant was generous enough to cheer his teammates during practice. There might be a possibility that KD will even join the Nets on a preseason tour in China, according to CBS Sports.
Paramount, however, on consideration is Durant's health so if he failed to show up for the Asian trip, that's because it's best for his recovery, Marks stated.
