I’m sure that every Golden State Warriors fan held there breath last night when Kevin Durant went down about one minute into last nights game against the Washington Wizards. There was a loose ball situation early in the game. Wizards center Marcin Gortat ended up fouling Warriors center Zaza Pachulia on the play. Pachulia’s momentum took him into the back of Durant’s legs. Durant jumped away from Pachulia’s contact, hopping while holding his left leg. Durant actually tried to play the next two possesions befiore asking Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to calla timeout so he could come out of the game. After being looked at by trainers on the bench Durant headed to the locker room holding his leg and didn’t return to the game. Durant underwent an MRI after suffering what was being called a hyperextended left knee, but the results have yet to be released. In what has to be an odd coincidence. The last time Durant played in his hometown of Washington, while with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss six games.
Durant took only one shot; which he missed, and left with zero points. By not scoring Durant’s streak of 562 regular season games (653 including the postseason) in which he scored at least 10 points came to an end.
In the wake of Durant’s injury the Warriors agreed to a deal with veteran swingman Matt Barnes. Barnes was released by the Sacramento Kings after they made there trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans. Barnes spent two seasons in Golden State, from 2006 to 2008. Since Golden State will be adding Barnes it will be forced to abandon its plans to sign Jose Calderon on Thursday after Calderon clears waivers. It is being reported that the Warriors will sign Calderon to a rest of the season deal and then promptly waive him, ensuring Calderon earns the money he would have received in Golden State but also leaving a roster spot open to add Barnes.
Barnes had played in 54 games for the Kings starting 13 of them before being waived. He was averaging 7.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game with Sacramento. For his career Barnes averages 8.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game. Barnes is in his 14th NBA season including two tours with the Warriors and two with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here’s the official report on Durant’s knee. Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, tibial bone bruise. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but is out indefinitely. It hasn’t been ruled out that he could return to the court before the end of the regular season.
It appears that a couple of other recently waived players have found new teams. Brandon Jennings who was released by the New York Knicks on Monday has verbally agreed to sign with the Washington Wizards. Jennings asked the Knicks to release him so he could join a contending team. Jennings played in 58 games for the Knicks starting 11 of them. He was averaging 8.6 points per game, 4.9 assists per game and 2.6 rebounds per game this season. On Monday the Cleveland Cavaliers added point guard Deron Williams after he was released by the Dallas Mavericks, Now it appears as though Andrew Bogot will also sign with the Cavaliers when he clears waivers on Wednesday. Bogot was a teammate of Williams with the Dallas Mavericks, but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline. Bogot agreed to a buyout with Philadelphia on Monday making him a free agent. The Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics where all interested in Bogot’s services, but he chose to sign with the Cavaliers. Bogot had played in just 26 games with the Mavericks due to injury. He started in 21 games for Dallas. Bogot was averaging 3.0 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game and 1.0 blocks per game. Bogot won an NBA championship with Golden State in the 2014-15 season.
The National hockey League trade deadline is today at 3 p.m. Eastern time and there has been quite a it of player movement these last couple of days. Here’s some of the deals that have happened. The Montreal Canadiens picked up Center Steve Ott from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2018 6th round draft pick. The San Jose Sharks got Right Wing Jannik Hansen from the Vancouver Canucks for Left Wing Nicolay Goldobin and a 2017 conditional 4th round pick. The Edmonton Oilers got Center David Desharnais from the Canadiens for Defenseman Brandon Davidson. The Canadiens will play 20% of Desharnais remaining salary. The Chicago Blackhawks got Johnny Oduya from the Dallas Stars for Center Mark McNeill and a 2018 conditional 4th-round pick. Dallas will pay 50% of Oduya’s remaining salary. The Ottawa Senators got Left wing Viktor Stalberg from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2017 3rd round pick and a 2018 2nd round pick. The New York Rangers picked up Defenseman Brendan Smith from the Red Wings for a 2017 3rd round pick and a 2018 2nd round pick. The Rangers also picked up Center Daniel Catenacci from the Buffalo Sabres for Defenseman Mat Bodie. The Washington Capitals picked up Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, and Goalie Pheonix Copley from the St. Louis Blues for Centers Brad Malone, Zach Sanford, a 2017 1st round pick and a 2019 conditional 2nd round pick. The Canadiens acquired Defenseman Jordie Benn from Dallas for Defenseman Greg Pateryn and a 2017 4th round pick. The Senators picked up Right Wing Alex Burrows from the Canucks for Center Jonathan Dahlen. The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up Center Brian Boyle from the Tampa Bay Lighting for Center Byron Froese and a 2017 2nd-round pick. The Arizona Coyotes got Teemu Pulkkiene from the Minnesota Wild for Future Considerations. The Wild also got Centers Martin Hanzel, Ryan White and a 2017 4th round pick from Arizona for Goalie Grayson Downing, a 2017 1st round pick, 2018 2nd round pick and a 2019 conditional pick. The Coyotes will pay 50% of Hanzel’s remaining salary. The Los Angeles Kings acquired Goalie Ben Bishop and a 2017 5th-round pick from Tampa Bay for Goalie Peter Budaj, Defenseman Erik Cernak, a 2017 7th-round pick and a 2017 conditional pick. Tampa Bay will pay 20% of Bishop’s remaining salary.
There are the deals that have been made so far. How many move trades do you think we’ll see before the 3 p.m. Eastern deadline?
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