While they may not be chasing history as they were last year, all signs point to the Warriors being as scary a team as ever now with Kevin Durant in the mix. Speaking today at the groundbreaking of the franchise’s new arena in San Francisco, team owner Joe Lacob mentioned to Marc Spears of The Undefeated that he has “every expectation” that their recently acquired superstar will re-sign with the team long-term.
Last summer, Durant opted to leave the Thunder to join Stephen Curry and the 2015 NBA champions, but the contract he signed for $26.5MM in 2016/17 has a player option for the 2017/18 campaign. Given the rising salary cap, Durant is in line to make more money if he opts out and signs a new contract. In fact, eligible to receive as much as 35% of the cap because he’ll be a 10-year veteran, Durant could sign a four-year deal, worth over $150MM.
Asked directly if he had any news to share with the team owners regarding his pending free agency, Durant simply said, “it will be fun playing [in the new Chase Center],” reports Anthony Slater of the Mercury News.
In 41 games for the Warriors, Durant has averaged 25.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and the Warriors currently pace the Western Conference with a 35-6 record. That considered, while much can change between now and the summer, there’s no obvious basketball reason for the two parties to part ways.
Please don’t resign Kevin
Yeah. OKC had every expectation too. These bros ain’t loyal.
I think he will stay. But imagine if he left? They had to let some guys go to get him and I think they would be in bad shape he left because they would be a huge hole and they wouldn’t have the deep roster they had before he went there.
There are some intriguing free agents this off season though, it he did leave. Blake Griffin being one of them. I have a feeling Blake goes to OKC. If the Clippers have to chose between CP3 and Griffin you guys think they’d chose Blake or Paul?
The players that left were going to leave regardless, especially Barnes. They wouldn’t have been able to keep that group of support players because they were going to get raises (Speights, Barnes, Ezeili and Barbosa).
Good point, speights didn’t get a raise but he wanted more consistent playing time. I think their bench is just as good if not better now anyway, still have iggy and Livingston and javale is way better than people thought he really changes the game for them, Clark is better and a great shooter and then David west doesnt get a lot of attention but he is a great passer rebounder defender and great mid range shooter. How many teams have 2 former all stars coming off bench?
Livingston and iggy and other guys will be the ones hard to keep if Durant and curry take max, I hope they can keep it together, if you don’t like watching this team you don’t truly like basketball!
Warriors will just kept getting better – end of story – major market – new arena – done -all of them will remain- they will add more – goodnight Bron
It’s more than just playing basketball that will keep Durant in the Bay Area. The environment here is amazing. Players can be themselves, and have fun, and he’s now apart of one of the best basketball teams of all time, why would he leave next year? I could see in 3 years maybe, but living out here has great perks. And this is from a Republican in this area, so you know it’s even better if you’re a democrat.
Narrative until he doesn’t.
Why would anyone want to leave the Warriors? Especially if they are willing to pay you max salary?
Taxes are high he wins title then go for more $
Durant will make his handsome wages regardless. He loves the bay area, and I don’t blame him. Guys like him want to live in a place like this, especially given the political climate of the country. People tend to forget that factor. He will stay.
In fact, he said before that he doesn’t want to go through free agency again.
He will stay. The political climate in the Bay Area is one of the best places to be for, lets say, 4 years?? Possibly 8 if we’re unlucky.
Rest assured, he seems to be enjoying himself and his new home.