The injury to Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant may cost him the season. If it does, next season will be do-or-die for Oklahoma City as Durant's 2016 free agency approaches.
Persistent soreness in Durant's foot led to him undergoing what the team called a "minor" surgical procedure in mid-February. Durant practiced this week on a limited basis, but after being held out of Thursday's session because soreness in his foot, Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the reigning MVP would be out indefinitely - possibly even for the remainder of the season.
"He's not making the progress we'd hoped or expected," Presti said Friday, according to ESPN.
When asked if Durant would be shut down for the season, Presti said, "Essentially, that's the direction we're headed right now. ... Unless he's able to be back on the floor without soreness, he won't be back on the floor."
The Thunder (38-30) are clinging onto the West's No. 8 spot with a one-game lead, but even if they were able to reach the postseason, point guard Russell Westbrook would be able to carry them only so far. While the immediate question is how the potential loss of Durant will impact the Thunder this season, the bigger question is how it will impact them next summer.
Durant becomes a free agent in July 2016, and he's given no indication whether he plans to stay in Oklahoma City. Most believe Durant wants to remain in Oklahoma City, but only if the team makes significant strides this postseason and the next. If Durant misses the remainder of the year, it would essentially nix this season for him and put the onus of whether he stays almost entirely on how the Thunder play next season.
Durant is unlikely to verbally commit to re-signing with Oklahoma City before next season's trade deadline, which puts Presti at risk of losing him for nothing in free agency if he doesn't trade him before then. Assuming Durant doesn't pull a Kevin Love or a Carmelo Anthony and tell Oklahoma City before the deadline he won't re-sign, there's no way he gets traded.
Presti will have his chance to re-sign Durant in the summer, but Durant's season probably being over now gives the Thunder only one chance - instead of two - to show him they can get him to the NBA finals again.
