Suns' Kevin Durant: Actually sidelined three weeks
Rotowire
Durant (ankle) will be re-evaluated in three weeks, per an official release from the Suns.
An earlier report from Shams Charania of The Athletic indicated that Durant would be re-evaluated after two weeks. However, an official update by the Suns revealed that the superstar forward will in fact be sidelined for at least three weeks. Given that timeline, Durant could be available for the Suns' final six games assuming he is cleared immediately following his re-evaluation March 30. Fantasy managers will have to heavily consider dropping Durant in most formats. In his stead, Terrence Ross, Torrey Craig and T.J. Warren figure to see expanded roles.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Will be re-evaluated in two weeks
Rotowire
Durant (ankle) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Durant suffered a significant ankle sprain while slipping in pregame warmups Wednesday. Charania notes swelling has reduced in the ankle, which is a good sign for the superstar potentially returning before the end of the regular season. Still, many fantasy managers may not be able to wait two or more weeks for Durant to get back on the court, so he's a drop in certain league formats. During his absence, Terrence Ross, Torrey Craig, T.J. Warren and other wings are candidates to see more run.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: May miss rest of regular season
Rotowire
The Suns are concerned that Durant may have suffered a Grade 2 left ankle sprain during pregame warmups prior to Wednesday's win over the Thunder, with the injury potentially keeping him out for 4-to-6 weeks, Greg Moore of The Arizona Republic reports.
Phoenix likely won't provide definitive word on Durant's injury until he undergoes an MRI, but if a Grade 2 sprain is confirmed, he could be sidelined through the end of the regular season, which wraps up April 9. For now, managers may be best off standing pat with Durant for a couple more days until a formal diagnosis is provided. Still, he would be tough to justify holding in redraft formats during the fantasy playoffs if his injury is more than a day-to-day concern. After returning from a seven-week absence due to a sprained knee earlier this month, Durant averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 three-pointers and 1.3 blocks in 32.7 minutes per game over his first three outings with the Suns before he slipped awkwardly on the court and sprained his ankle while warming up for what would have been his home debut for Phoenix. Durant was seen sporting a large walking boot on his left foot following warmups, so he looks fairly safe to rule out for games Saturday versus the Kings and Monday at Golden State until the team provides another update on his injury.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: In walking boot
Rotowire
Durant was wearing a boot after being scratched from Wednesday's game against the Thunder with a left ankle sprain, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Durant sustained the injury during pre-game warmups but managed to finish his routine before being ruled out for the contest. On top of wearing a walking boot post-game, Durant is set to undergo further examination Thursday, which is certainly a discouraging sign. Fantasy managers should check back in for a status update sometime Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Late scratch Wednesday
Rotowire
Durant is out for Wednesday's game versus the Thunder due to left ankle soreness.
Durant's injury was caused by him slipping on the court in pregame warmups, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports. Torrey Craig will replace the superstar forward in the starting lineup Wednesday. Durant will have two days to recover before Saturday's matchup with Sacramento.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Pours in game-high 37
Rotowire
Durant closed with 37 points (12-17 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 10-11 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 40 minutes during Sunday's 130-126 win over Dallas.
Playing his third game as a member of the Suns, Durant took charge down the stretch in the back-and-forth affair and wound up sinking the game-winning bucket with 12.1 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. It's the 34-year-old's best performance since his return from a knee issue that cost him nearly two months, and Phoenix has won all three of its games with Durant in the lineup. With 17 more contests left on the regular-season schedule, the veteran superstar appears primed for a big finish.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Solid debut with new team
Rotowire
Durant produced 23 points (10-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 27 minutes during Wednesday's 105-91 victory over the Hornets.
Durant returned to the floor for the first time in about seven weeks and for the first time as a Phoenix Sun. He looked comfortable playing alongside his new teammates and put up a solid line in almost 27 minutes. Fantasy managers are surely glad to see him back just as the fantasy playoffs are beginning, and assuming Durant is going to sit out certain games, they can take some comfort in knowing that the Suns only have one set of back-to-back contests over the next three weeks.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Excels in team debut
Rotowire
Durant (knee) tallied 23 points (10-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 27 minutes Wednesday in the Suns' 106-91 win over the Hornets.
Though he was on a minutes limit in his Phoenix debut while playing for the first time since Jan. 8 following his recovery from a sprained right knee, Durant had little trouble fitting in with his new team. He feasted on the Hornets, hitting a barrage of mid-range shots and adding a couple of three-point buckets en route to an efficient scoring performance during his time on the court. According to Shane Young of Forbes.com, head coach Monty Williams said after the game that Durant will remain on an unspecified minutes restriction for at least the next week, but that shouldn't deter fantasy managers from activating him if they haven't already.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Set to make Phoenix debut
Rotowire
Durant (knee) is available for Wednesday's game versus the Hornets.
Durant hasn't played since Jan. 8 due to an MCL sprain but will make his Suns debut Wednesday after being traded from Brooklyn. The superstar forward will surely be inserted into the starting lineup, likely alongside Torrey Craig or Josh Okogie at the other forward position. Durant is a must-start in all fantasy formats.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: On track to play Wednesday
Rotowire
The Suns announced that Durant (knee) is expected to make his team debut Wednesday against the Hornets. He's officially listed as probable.
Shortly after the Suns reconvened following the All-Star break, reports surfaced suggesting that Durant was targeting March 1 for his team debut. He'll indeed end up meeting that goal after he came out of Tuesday's practice no worse for the wear. The 13-time All-Star has been sidelined over a month and a half due to an MCL sprain, so he could have some restrictions with his minutes count Wednesday, though he presumably wouldn't be thrust into game action unless he was able to handle a starting role. Durant's skill set and veteran moxie should allow him to seamlessly mesh with his new squad, but it'll be interesting to see how the Suns divvy up playmaking opportunities between Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Targeting March 1
Rotowire
Durant (knee) is planning to make his Phoenix debut March 1 in Charlotte, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
That means that KD will miss Friday's game against the Thunder as well as Sunday's game versus the Bucks, but he's on the cusp of a return from his MCL sprain. Durant hasn't played since Jan. 12, so he'll likely have his minutes monitored in his first game back, but it appears he'll be available for the fantasy playoffs. His return will mean fewer minutes for Josh Okogie and Torrey Craig, and there will be fewer shots available for Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Could debut Sunday
Rotowire
Durant (knee) could make his Suns debut during Sunday's game against the Bucks, ESPN.com reports.
It was reported before the break that Durant was hoping to return soon after the festivities, and that may be as early as Sunday. Once Durant is available, he'll presumably be on a minutes limit after last playing Jan. 8. His debut will presumably push Josh Okogie out of the starting five. It remains to be seen how Durant's presence affects the offense, but he should still be an elite fantasy asset. In his 36.0 minutes per game this season, Durant has averaged 29.7 points on 56/38/93 shooting, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Hopes to play shortly after break
Rotowire
Durant (knee), who is out Thursday against the Clippers, said that he hopes to return soon after the All-Star break, Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com reports.
Durant has missed over a month due to a right knee injury that he sustained Jan. 8, but he practiced Monday after being traded to Phoenix ahead of last week's trade deadline. The Suns were impressed with Durant's practice performance, as he wasn't wearing a brace and drove to the basket during a 1-on-1 session against an assistant coach. Phoenix returns to play against the Thunder on Feb. 24, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Durant with a minutes restriction once he's cleared for game action.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Practices, but out through break
Rotowire
Durant (knee) took part in his first practice session with the Suns on Monday, but team officials ruled him out for Phoenix's final two games before the All-Star break Tuesday versus the Kings and Thursday versus the Clippers, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Durant will also be sidelined through All-Star Weekend festivities while he recovers from a right MCL sprain, but the superstar forward looks like he could be on pace to make his Suns debut when Phoenix opens its post-break schedule Feb. 24 against the Thunder. Though Durant didn't appear to be a full participant in Monday's workout, Rankin notes that the 34-year-old wasn't wearing a brace on his right knee and looked healthy while driving to the basket during a 1-on-1 session against assistant coach Jarrett Jack. Durant has been sidelined since Jan. 8 with the knee injury and could face a minutes restriction for a few games once he's cleared to resume playing.
... See More... See Less
Suns' Kevin Durant: Moved to Phoenix in blockuster
Rotowire
The Suns agreed Thursday to acquire Durant (knee) and T.J. Warren from the Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, unprotected first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 and a 2028 first-round pick swap, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
The trade of Durant comes as a surprise after recent reports suggested Brooklyn didn't intend to explore moving the superstar forward until after the season, but the 34-year-old will end up following Kyrie Irving out the door as the Nets restructure their roster. Durant is currently sidelined with an MCL sprain of his right knee that will keep him sidelined through the All-Star break, but the Suns were apparently comfortable with his medical report to sign off on the deal. Assuming Durant is ready to go at some point after the break, he'll join a star-studded lineup that includes Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, giving the Suns the sort of core that could make a deep run in the postseason.
... See More... See Less
Nets' Kevin Durant: Update 'good,' still no timetable
Rotowire
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said Tuesday that Durant's (knee) recent medical update was "really good," but the star forward has yet to resume contact work and remains without a timetable for a return, Chris Milholen of SI.com reports.
According to Chris Haynes of Turner Sports, Durant won't play in the All-Star Game and will be sidelined for the Nets' final five contests of the first half. The Nets' recent trade of Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks sparked some questions regarding Durant's availability ahead of Thursday's deadline for deals, but he's expected to remain with Brooklyn for the rest of the season. Assuming that's the case, Durant will be returning to a new-look team that just added Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, and more moves may be on the way before Thursday. However, Durant's role is unlikely to change significantly regardless of what players Brooklyn may add or subtract from the mix. Prior to spraining in his right knee Jan. 8, Durant was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks in 36.0 minutes per contest.
... See More... See Less
Nets' Kevin Durant: Likely to remain in Brooklyn
Rotowire
Durant (knee) and the Nets have had ongoing discussions regarding the future of the franchise in wake of the Kyrie Irving trade, but thus far, Brooklyn has informed inquiring teams that it doesn't intend to trade Durant, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Though Durant expressed interest in joining the Suns this past summer and Phoenix has reportedly inquired about the 13-time All-Star's availability following the trade of Irving to Dallas, Brooklyn apparently hasn't shown any willingness to move on from Durant as Thursday's trade deadline approaches. Durant remains under contract for three more seasons, but the Nets will likely need to convince him that they will contend in the coming seasons for the veteran not to request a trade this offseason.
... See More... See Less
Nets' Kevin Durant: Set for checkup in two weeks
Rotowire
Durant (knee) is on track with his recovery plan and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
The Nets announced Wednesday that Durant will begin running and participating in on-court activities this week, but another update on his status likely won't come until next month. He was initially expected to miss about a month after being diagnosed Jan. 9 with an isolated MCL sprain in his right knee, and his re-evaluation a week into February should provide an updated outlook on his timeline. With his potential return date falling right around the All-Star break, the Brooklyn staff may opt to give the MVP candidate even more time to rest before thrusting him back into game action for the second half of the campaign. After losing four straight games without Durant in the lineup, the 29-17 Nets have won back-to-back contests and currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
... See More... See Less
Nets' Kevin Durant: Likely facing one-month absence
Rotowire
Durant is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month after he was diagnosed Monday with an isolated MCL sprain of his right knee, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
The Nets haven't confirmed the one-month timeline, with the team merely announcing earlier Monday that Durant would be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering the injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 102-101 win over the Heat. However, since Durant will require some sort of ramp-up period even if his re-evaluation later this month yields good news, fantasy managers should be prepared for the possibility of the 34-year-old being sidelined until around the All-Star break in mid-February. Durant previously missed six weeks during the 2021-22 season due to an MCL sprain of his left knee, but the injury he suffered to his other knee isn't considered quite as severe. Before getting hurt Sunday, Durant had been a relative paragon of health this season, missing just one of the Nets' first 39 games while putting himself in the MVP conversation by averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 three-pointers, 1.5 blocks and 0.8 steals in 36.0 minutes per contest while converting at career-best rates from the field (55.9 percent) and free-throw line (93.4 percent).
... See More... See Less
Nets' Kevin Durant: Out at least two weeks
Rotowire
Durant was diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee Monday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Durant left Sunday's win over the Heat early after tweaking his knee and underwent further imaging Monday, which revealed an MCL sprain. The news is devastating to the Nets, who've won 14 of their past 15 games and currently sit at second place in the Eastern Conference. However, with only five games separating second and seventh place, Brooklyn will have its work cut out for the team in the absence of Durant, who's averaging 29.7 points on 55.9 percent shooting across 36.0 minutes per game this season. Yuta Watanabe, Joe Harris and Seth Curry are candidates to join the starting lineup in Durant's stead, while T.J. Warren and Markieff Morris will presumably see increased work off the bench. Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons figure to handle the bulk of the playmaking opportunities until the MVP candidate is able to return.
