What I'm Hearing: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt discuss reaction to Kevin Durant's Achillies injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. USA TODAY


When Kevin Durant went down with what we learned was a torn right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, the future — for Durant, the Golden State Warriors and the entire NBA — became murky.

What now?

It has long been believed that this was going to be Durant's last year in Golden State, that he'd lead the Warriors to a third consecutive championship and then head elsewhere this summer. Perhaps the injury changes nothing. Perhaps it changes everything.

It's possible that only Durant and those closest to him know what he's going to do. It's also possible that he has no idea.

Still, he has options, and his decision could alter the NBA for years.


He could opt in

Now that everyone's worst fears are confirmed, Durant could miss most, if not all, of next season. But Durant has a player option, meaning he can choose whether or not he wants to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30 or stay with the Warriors for one more season. The option is for $31.5 million, so Durant could exercise it, get paid, get healthy, and push his decision to the summer of 2020.

He would, however, be leaving money on the table by opting in, which makes this option less likely than others. 

He could hit the market

Durant is arguably the best player in the NBA and one of the most gifted scorers in basketball history. Achilles injuries are devastating and the odds of a player returning to previous form aren't high. Both of these can be true at the same time.

If you're the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets or another team with money to spend this summer, do you offer Durant a max contract not knowing if he'll see the court in 2019-20 or, more importantly, if he'll ever be the same player again? The answer should be yes. 

Durant is only 30 and he doesn't play above the rim. He's as smooth as they come, and his length and ability to shoot over defenders is what makes him so deadly. Sure, there's a chance that he never returns to perennial MVP candidate status. There's also a chance that he does, and that's a risk worth taking.

He could re-sign with Warriors

The Warriors can offer Durant more money than any other team. What if he decides to come back for the long term and keep the dynasty rolling?

What if this ending — suffering a serious injury and watching your team (probably) lose in the Finals without you — isn't an ending at all, but just another chapter in Durant's Warriors story?

What if the Warriors' reaction to his injury, from president of basketball operations Bob Myers on down, makes Durant feel more comfortable with the organization than he ever has before?

That's a lot of "what ifs," but for now, hypotheticals are all anyone has. 

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