NBA News Roundup, Wednesday, September 25th: Kevin Durant unlikely to return this season, Bucks fined for Giannis comments and more

The 2019-20 NBA season is quickly approaching, and teams are currently gearing up to begin training camps. The camps will provide teams with the opportunity to examine the current status of their roster, and a number of teams are likely to be looking to make further additions in the month leading up to the season.

Free agents such as J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony, and Kenneth Faried remain available, while the likes of Kevin Love and Chris Paul continue to be linked with trades. So, with the potential to happen in the coming weeks, here is everything you need to know for September 25th.

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#1 Kevin Durant is unlikely to play during 2019-20 season

Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles tendon after making his comeback during the 2019 NBA Finals

Kevin Durant is currently recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. After suffering the injury during the NBA Finals, Durant was ruled out of the entire 2019-20 season, and the 2014 MVP has since left the Golden State Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets.

Since heading to Brooklyn, there have been suggestions that Durant could still play during the upcoming season, although general manager Sean Marks says that his team is planning to play the 2019-20 season without their superstar new signing:

I've been excited to see, I think we all have, how he's approached this rehab, which has been great, very refreshing and energizing for the whole group. But at the end of the day, this is a long-term plan here. This was never about this next season. This is about getting an elite athlete back to elite physical shape on the court.

During the 2018-19 season, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. With the 30-year-old likely to miss the entire season, Kyrie Irving will be tasked with leading the Nets as they look to reach the postseason.

#2 Kyle Kuzma may miss Lakers training camp due to injury

Kyle Kuzma has been backed to step up as the Los Angeles Lakers' third star during the forthcoming season

The Los Angeles Lakers roster will soon gear up for training camp, although Marc Stein of The New York Times is reporting that Kyle Kuzma is expected to miss the start of the camp.

More on our AM story: The Lakers indeed expect Kyle Kuzma to miss the start of training camp as he continues to recover from a stress injury in his lower left leg, league sources say. The team will issue a formal update this week, with Kuzma's rehab said to be progressing well

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 24, 2019

Kuzma was the only member of the Lakers' much taled about young core that was retained this summer, and the 24-year-old has been backed to step up as the third star on Frank Vogel's team.

Kuzma injured his knee while training with Team USA ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and subsequently withdrew from selection for the tournament. During his second season with the Lakers, Kuzma averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Nevertheless, the Lakers' season doesn't get underway until Oct. 22, and Kuzma could still return.

#3 Milwaukee Bucks fined $50k for violating league rules over Giannis' extension

The Milwaukee Bucks remain keen to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo to a new deal

The Milwaukee Bucks are desperate to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo to a new deal, although the team has been fined $50k for violating league rules. ESPN is reporting that the fine stems from comments that Jon Horst made earlier this month:

The fine is in response to comments that Bucks general manager Jon Horst made about Giannis Antetokounmpo's contract at a televised town hall on Sept. 12, when he said that the Bucks plan to offer Antetokounmpo a supermax contract worth $253.8 million

Due to the collective bargaining agreement, Antetokounmpo isn't eligible to sign a supermax contract until next July. After being named MVP earlier this year, the Greek Freak will be able to sign the biggest contract in NBA history if he opts to remain with Milwaukee. Nevertheless, the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors are among the teams hopeful of landing him as a free agent in 2021.