NBA Rumors: No Kevin Durant Late Season Return Places Nets In Spot

Kevin Durant could be a big boost to the 2019-20 NBA campaign of the Brooklyn Nets but only if he is healthy. However, the former Most Valuable Player is still recuperating from an ACL injury he suffered in the last NBA Finals. There is a chance he could return in the latter part of the season. But it appears the 31-year-old All-Star is not taking any chances.

Durant appeared at ESPN's First Take recently and was asked of potentially playing this NBA season. It is a question buzzing right now and the second overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft finally gave a definite answer. He is ruling out any return, meaning the earliest fans may see him would be by the 2020-21 season.

The decision is bad news to Nets fans but a logical one. Even if Durant would return at some point, he would not be the same player most would expect. Worse, there is a lingering possibility he may aggravate his injury. One can just look at the plight of stars like Kobe Bryant and DeMarcus Cousins in the past.

In 2013, Bryant tried to return for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Black Mamba did play but ended up getting reinjured. Cousins followed the same route. Boogie's case was worse because several injuries (i.e. quad and another ACL injury) kept him out of action. Possibly learning from that, Durant knows that the best way is to return if he is 100-percent cleared by doctors.

For the Nets, this means that they will have to rely on Kyrie Irving and company for the 2019-20 NBA season. Irving has been phenomenal. But as mentioned in a previous post, management is concerned about his mood swings which are misinterpreted by other players. In four games, Irving has averaged 35.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game per Basketball reference.

Hence, the full power of the Nets may not be seen until next season. Durant signed a four-season deal worth $164 million while Irving agreed to $142 million for four years. The fruits of their investment may not be appreciated this 2019-20 season. However, the landscape changes the next NBA season when Durant is likely to finally see his first action as a Brooklyn Net.