Kerr Plays Down Kevin Durant Free Agency, Draymond Green Suspended For Confrontation

Kevin Durant's free agency is not an issue "in the slightest bit" for the rest of the Golden State Warriors players, according to head coach Steve Kerr.

The big talking point of Monday's 121-116 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers was the on-court confrontation between Durant and Draymond Green after the latter's turnover cost the visitors a chance at a potential game-winning shot.

Durant and Green had a verbal exchange afterward and had to be separated by teammates while later reports claimed it escalated into the locker room in what was one of the “most intense” scenes of the Golden State era.

The Athletic's Shams Charania even added that Green challenged Durant about his impending free agency next year.

Green has since been suspended without pay by the Warriors for their Tuesday game against the Atlanta Hawks for “conduct detrimental to the team" as they want him to "cool off."

While the entire issue could be overblown as Warriors players, particularly Green, have clashed before in the past, it is interesting that he challenged Durant about his free agency, especially as he was a major factor in bringing the 30-year-old to the Oracle Arena two years ago.

Durant's free agency has been a huge topic over the last few months and will only continue to do so as he can become a free agent next year and leave the Bay Area in search of a new challenge.

The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are the two teams that seem to be the favorites if that is the case, but despite the constant rumors and speculation, Durant has repeatedly claimed he is only focused on the season for now but would be transparent about his eventual decision.

"Just be honest," Durant said last month. "I was honest with my decision, but just like outwardly if people ask me about it, don't be ashamed to talk about why I decided to move teams and switch teams because it's not the end of the world. I didn't do anything against the law, you know what I'm saying? That's what I thought happened the first time."

And while Warriors players have joked about Durant's free agency in recent times, could Monday's confrontation be a sign that it is a bigger issue than most thought? Not according to Kerr.

"I think we'll be fine," Kerr added in Golden State's pregame conference on Tuesday. "We're a team that goes through stuff just like everybody else. Things happen, bumps on the road. You got to move forward, it's all part of coaching a team, being on a team. You have to get through the adversity, there are some difficult times and you get through them."

"They [the players] are extremely professional, they will handle this as you would expect, as I would expect they would," Kerr added.

The Warriors will look to get back to winning ways against the Hawks at the Oracle Arena and extend their regular season to 12-3.