We have that and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
The two-time defending champions have some issues. More specifically, one issue: Kevin Durant got hot at Draymond Green for a turnover and a brush-off at the end of a Monday loss to the Clippers, Green responded by calling Durant a b---h repeatedly and yelling about his impending free agency in the locker room, and the Warriors sided with Durant and suspended Green one game without pay for conduct detrimental to the team.
This isn’t the first oversteamed bun Durant and Green have cooked, though in the past the Warriors have been able to brush it off as a side effect of high standards, the long NBA season’s grind, and competitive juices. This is clearly different.
How do we know? Because of two things. First, Steve Kerr, often quick to downplay such incidents, made the call on suspending Green. Kerr has always known what his team requires, and he felt that Green needed to lose a game check and go home. That’s not nothing. Second, one presumes that Durant could have stepped in and pleaded with Kerr not to suspend Green for his actions if KD himself felt like it was no big deal. It does not appear he did that.
So Green is out $120,000, and while the Warriors still beat the Hawks without him or injured Stephen Curry, the icing is out of the piping bag. There’s no hiding from this for the Warriors.
That doesn’t mean anything will change from here. The Warriors are still overwhelming favorites, Durant could still sign a fat new contract with the Warriors this summer, Green could still find a reasonable deal to stay in 2020. Or everything could fall apart.
Meanwhile, who wants to bet Russell Westbrook is trying to find a way to Venmo Green $120,000?
Scores
Hornets 89, Cavaliers 113
Rockets 109, Nuggets 99
Hawks 103, Warriors 110
Schedule
On National TV:
Pelicans at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Blazers at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Selections from League Pass:
Sixers at Magic, 7 p.m. ET, Jimmy Butler’s probable debut
Pistons at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET, Dwane Casey’s return
Grizzlies at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Links
Warriors fans debate whether the Durant-Green blowup is a big deal. Marcus Thompson rings the alarm bells.
Matt Ellentuck tracked down everyone involved trying and failing to explain Markelle Fultz’s shooting stroke issues. This whole thing is getting pretty sad.
Kevin Arnovitz with an important piece on NBA teams as real estate developers, and the problems that opens up.
Jennifer Universe reflects on a year of Jimmy Butler in Minneapolis. Dan Devine asks whether Butler got what he wanted.
Amazing news: Caris LeVert didn’t break anything and should return later this season! Here’s a great deep dive on LeVert’s history and future from Anthony Puccio. Here’s Zach Lowe on LeVert as a Brooklyn cornerstone. Jeff Stotts goes deep on the injury.
Ricky O’Donnell explains why it’s still worth tanking this year.
A history of the Bulls’ epic 1990s player introductions.
As noted in the schedule section, Dwane Casey’s first game back in Toronto is on Tuesday. Dude is still heated about his dismissal, in case you were wondering.
The WNBA’s players’ union says the league hasn’t been forthcoming with full financial information.
Kevin O’Connor checks in on the sophomores, led by De’Aaron Fricking Fox.
Allonzo Trier’s journey from being the top 13-year-old in the country to being an undrafted Knick.
Aaron Gordon on staying out of “mental prison.”
Digging into the truth of the Carmelo Anthony story. I will say that I appreciate how it appears the franchise is committed to ensuring Melo isn’t scapegoated for this going sideways.
Megan Schuster with an excellent piece on the ever-expanding legacy of Lindsay Whalen.
And finally: Yaron Weitzman reveals that Tim Hardaway Jr. is obsessed with HGTV, which is the most relatable any Knick has ever been.
Be excellent to each other.