NBA Trade News 2016: Nuggets Looking To Trade Sean Kilpatrick; Lakers Believed To Have Slim Chance In Signing Kevin Durant
The Denver Nuggets is looking to release shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick from its roster.
According to a report by Harrison Wind for BSNDenver.com, the team decided not to prolong the services of the 26-year-old professional basketball player, now that his ten-day contract is on the brink of expiring.
For his part, head coach Michael Malone is seemingly hesitant to let go of Kilpatrick and is actually hopeful to work with the young athlete in the future.
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"He is everything that we are trying to be in terms of: culture, character, hard work, good teammate," Malone said, according to the BSNDenver report. "He has shown, to me, that he belongs in the NBA. It has been a pleasure coaching him and getting to know him."
Kilpatrick jumped around two D-League teams from 2014-2015, before being signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, also on a ten-day contract. In 2015 alone, Kilpatrick played for two different NBA teams for the preseason: the Milwaukee Bucks during the Summer League, and the New Orleans Pelicans in September.
But after being once again released by the Pelicans, he was re-signed by D-League team, the Delaware 87ers. Kilpatrick's contract with the Nuggets began in January 12 and he was given a second 10-day contract on January 23. As of this posting, he was once again re-signed by Delaware.
Kilpatrick was only able to play in eight of the ten games in his contract, where he averaged 3.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.3 steals, through 10.3 minutes of playing time per game.
Meanwhile, the struggling Los Angeles Lakers are believed to have "very little" chances of signing 2014 Most Valuable Player awardee Kevin Durant.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports' 'The Vertical' pointed out that defending champions Golden State Warriors are a "serious threat" to signing Durant, since Durant is "chasing championships, chasing a legacy."
Wojnarowski adds however, that Durant may end up with the Lakers' sister team, the Clippers, as he could serve as a viable replacement for Blake Griffin, who is also being rumored to be traded.
