Durant’s deal with Warriors gives team flexibility
Kevin Durant is staying with the NBA champions.
Durant decided to sign a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, the Associated Press reported Saturday. The deal comes with a player option for 2019-20, so Durant can — and likely will — become a free agent again next summer.
It’s a win on multiple levels for the two-time defending NBA champion Warriors. Not only do they get to keep the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals MVP, but they also get some financial flexibility in the deal.
Durant will be paid about $30.5 million this coming season, about $5 million less than he could have commanded if the deal was structured differently. That savings will give Golden State options for other moves this summer, as the Warriors look to bolster their bench for a run at what could be a fourth title in a five-year span.
A year ago, Durant declined to opt in for the second year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent. That also was expected as he wanted to do whatever he could to give the franchise financial flexibility to keep the Kevin Durant, who has celebrated NBA titles in each of his two seasons with the Warriors, will likely become a free agent again after next season.
core of the team intact to chase more titles.
Then, the Warriors won another one earlier this month — and Durant hoisted the MVP trophy a second time.
After the season, general manager Bob Myers said Golden State would reward Durant with “whatever he wants.”
“Sometimes you don’t negotiate. 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,” Myers said. “He’s earned the right to sign whatever deal he wants. I just want him to sign a deal. But want him to be happy and want him to know that we want him as long as he wants
to be here. He’s earned that, to kind of lay out the terms. He can do whatever he wants. That shouldn’t be a long negotiation.”
Durant, recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist award for this past season honoring his charity efforts, led the Warriors to a Finals sweep of LeBron James and the Cavaliers by averaging 28.8 points — he shot 52.6 percent and 40.9 percent from threepoint range — 10.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists and two blocks.
Wrapping up
NBA teams will work with a salary cap of $101,869,000 for the coming season, with a salary tax level of $123,733,000. The league released those figures hours before teams can begin negotiating with free agents. … The Atlanta Hawks requested waivers on reserve guard Isaiah Taylor. Taylor, signed to a two-year contract last October, started nine of his 67 games last season. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 assists in 17.4 minutes. … The Los Angeles Lakers waived center Thomas Bryant, a secondround pick in last year’s draft. The Lakers have spent the past year clearing salary-cap room for their pursuit of elite free agents, including James. … The Phoenix Suns waived point guard Tyler Ulis. The Suns made the move a day before his contract would have become guaranteed. He had a non-guaranteed $1.5 million deal for the upcoming season with a $1.6 million team option for 2019-20.