NBA Notes: Rockets, Kevin Durant, Nets, Julius Randle, Timberwolves

Rockets

Kevin Durant played 78 games last season at age 37. The Rockets may not want him doing that again.

Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while finishing ninth in MVP voting, but injuries late in the season and playoffs brought his first year in Houston to a premature end.

That has created an obvious question: Should the Rockets begin managing Durant’s workload?

The Rockets On SI staff recently debated the subject, with most landing somewhere between scheduled rest and simply reducing his minutes.

Durant averaged 36.4 minutes last season. Cutting that number by three or four per game could preserve him without disrupting his rhythm or asking him to sit while healthy.

That may be the more realistic approach. Durant has never shown much enthusiasm for load management and remains determined to play whenever possible.

Houston doesn’t need to treat every regular-season game like an elimination game. It does need Durant healthy when the actual elimination games arrive.

Nets

Julius Randle is expected to become more than a scorer in Brooklyn.

Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said the three-time All-Star will be asked to provide leadership for a young roster after arriving from the Timberwolves in the trade that sent Nic Claxton to the Bulls.

“He’s going to be a leader, that’s for sure,” Fernandez said, via Sameer Kumar of Nets On SI. “He wants to lead. He wants to do it the right way.”

Randle has experience carrying a rebuilding team in a demanding market. He helped end the Knicks’ seven-year playoff drought and later reached the Western Conference finals with Minnesota.

Brooklyn will also need his production. Randle’s ability to attack the paint should create opportunities for Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. on the perimeter. He can initiate offense, draw additional defenders and take some pressure off the Nets’ younger players.

Could Brooklyn eventually trade him for a player who better fits its timeline? Sure.

But entering the season, the Nets appear intent on giving Randle a large role and asking him to set the standard, both on and off the court.

Timberwolves

Rudy Gobert may have even more defensive responsibility next season. That isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Minnesota added LaMelo Ball while parting with Julius Randle and Naz Reid, leaving the roster smaller and potentially more vulnerable around the basket.

As Andrew Carlson of Timberwolves On SI examined, Gobert will be asked to protect the rim, cover for breakdowns on the perimeter and control the defensive glass. That becomes a considerable workload if Ball struggles navigating screens or Jaden McDaniels has difficulty handling larger power forwards.

Gobert dealt with similar issues late in his Jazz tenure. Opponents pulled him away from the basket, attacked weaker perimeter defenders and then blamed him when he couldn’t cover everyone at once.

The Timberwolves are more athletic than those Utah teams, and Ball should help Gobert offensively with his passing and ability to create lob opportunities.

Defense will be the larger question. If Ball competes, McDaniels holds up against stronger forwards and the Wolves rebound collectively, Gobert can remain focused on what he does best.

If not, Minnesota may again ask him to solve every defensive problem at once. No center can do that. Not even a four-time Defensive Player of the Year.