KD opts out, but will stay with Warriors
Kevin Durant is opting out of the twoyear, $51 million deal he signed with Golden State last summer but has no intention of leaving the Warriors.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Durant informed the Warriors of his decision. By opting out, he can sign a fouryear max contract for about $158 million.
Ownership has already committed to making a pact Durant approves of for next season and beyond, and in the euphoria of claiming another NBA title, Warriors general manager Bob Myers made inference to a blank-check offer from the Warriors.
“Sometimes you don’t negotiate,” Myers said. “I’d love to have him for 10 years. Kevin Durant, look what he did for us last year, he did us a great service by taking less than a max offer. He’s earned the right to sign whatever deal he wants.”
Meanwhile, LA Lakers executive Magic Johnson is confident his club will be able to lure big-name free agents, but he also isn’t putting all of his eggs in this summer’s basket.
When asked by reporters if it will be a failure if the Lakers don’t sign a star like LeBron James or Paul George next month, Johnson responded, “No, because I told you this is two summers.”
Johnson, who was named president of basketball operations in March of 2017, later added: “Next summer if nobody comes and I’m still sitting here like this, then it’s a failure. But if you judge us on one summer, that’s ridiculous. Then a lot of dudes shouldn’t be in their roles. Because if we’re banking on one summer for the Lakers, we’re in trouble.”