The NBA’s two best players can reach the open market in less than a month, but while LeBron James‘ future remains up in the air, it appears Kevin Durant‘s free agency will be merely a formality. Speaking to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols (video link), the All-NBA forward confirmed that he doesn’t intend to change teams this summer.
“I’m planning on staying with the Warriors,” Durant said. “We’ll figure the rest out.”
As Durant alludes to – and as Nichols notes – he and the Warriors figure to negotiate a new contract, since he’s unlikely to exercise his player option. With Durant’s Early Bird rights in hand, Golden State will be able to offer up to four years, not to mention a sizable raise. Still, the 2017 Finals MVP doesn’t sound concerned about working out those details.
Long considered likely to opt out and re-sign with Golden State, Durant opened that door a crack in a recent conversation with Sam Amick of USA Today. Speaking to Amick, Durant said he planned on sticking with the Warriors, but cautioned that “anything can happen” in the NBA. Based on his latest comments though, it sounds as if the 29-year-old has made up his mind, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Dubs won’t welcome him back, no matter the price.
With Durant’s return a virtual lock, it will simply come down to how he and the Warriors structure his next deal. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) details in his preview of Golden State’s offseason, there are three realistic scenarios: a one-year deal, a three-year deal with a player option on the third year, or a four-year deal, which could be worth a projected $158MM+.
Why would he leave? Until LBJ goes to a better team, the Warriors have no rival. Houston needs CP3 and Harden to play like MVPs to beat them in a 7 game series.
I mean which team is going to beat them? We know Houston couldn’t.
Kyrie, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, Horford
Simmons, Redick, LBJ, Saric, Embiid
Ball, Hart, PG13, LBJ, Kuzma
The lakers lineup you listed wouldn’t come close to beating the warriors. I could see philly or a 100% healthy Boston team giving them a series at least
I think you will need 3/4 future HoF vs GSW 4 future HoFs. 2 wont get it done.
If Philly w LBJ is 40-60, Healthy Celtics is 40-60. Philly and Boston would need to add another piece to improve their odds. For Philly sits Kawhi and LBJ. For the Celtics it would prob be a Big. Horford is versatile, but a legit Big would make their team complete.
If NOLA didnt just reup Holiday, I’d say Rozier + Brown + Kings pick for AD. But they are in their own win now mode.
If GS doesnt add someone that can help them in their rotation, I could see them being vulnerable to Boston or Philly next year, depending on what philly does. It will be year 5 for them, and a couple of their guys are starting to get a little older, like Livingston and Iguodala, and it’s still not clear if David West will be back as a big that can defend and stretch the floor a bit and pass out of the high post. They could use 1 or 2 guys for reinforcements for next year. That being said, they’re the obvious favorites barring anything crazy
I think West is done this year , he is getting old and becoming more of an average player . I think We took him cuz of a pay cut .
He came to the warriors on a min deal after playing for the spurs on a min deal. For the first 2 years or was notable because he turned down 10s of millions to play for a winner. Starting this year he has lost a step. Warriors might bring him back but recent history suggests this is his last year with us.
All those points mentioned are valid , I am a big Warrior fan but lately we have been getting a lot of injuries . The team will get older and injured prone . Celtics has a young chore or newly motivated players . At some point they should take over the Warriors crown. harden is out of breathe by the middle of the third , CP3 ‘s body can’t handle the work by the end of the season , Levron will have to commit on getting g anpaycug like Durant did if he wants the support . And all the other teams just need few more key players. pelicans , Jazz and Raptors are way better than what they were the year before . But Celtics didn’t play Kyrie Irving . I think they are the next in throne .
It doesnt matter if he takes a pay cut really. Cavs can resign him but cant aer anyone anyway. Lakers can sign him and PG13 outright. Sixers need to move Bayless ti give him the max. Everyone else needs him to take MLe lol.
He could also go in a sign and trade, like last time, or he could pull a CP3 and opt in and demand a trade to his preferred destination
Boston had that Kings pick next year. Wouldn’t be surprised if they move it this year to move up, or simply draft a top player next year. Either way, they’re going to be scary good and deep.
Agree. They already have a great team with a star player (Irving) who didn’t play and an early draft pick next year, they are well positioned to take over anytime . The rest of the teams are getting older : Houston, OKC, Golden Gate , Lebron (wherever he goes ). There are some new teams rising up such as Utah, New Orleans , Toronto
Kings pick, not Knicks.
A healthy Houston beats them this year. Only difference next year is they might lose Capela
What tells you that? The 41 point loss, 35 point loss, or the games where they got destroyed in the 2nd half without CP3 where GS didnt have Igoudala. CP3 won them a couple of games by himself, but I still dont think they would have won. They couldn’t give him the full reigns, and I said from the moment that trade went down that they go as far as Chris Paul would take them, and if Harden makes him watch while he dribbles, they’ll lose….
The 3-2 lead with CPaul. Next year they rest him better.
And if the warriors had iguodala they win in 5 or 6
As long as the Warriors core 4 stats together, they have another 2-3 years of dominating. They can fill out the roster with veterans that want a chance at a ring who have already made their $.
Health will be the biggest concern for GS as their core reaches their 30s.
Imagine if they picked up a Jahlil Okafor or Noel on the cheap and they develop them the right eay. Or if another big gets bought out. Doesnt have to be old heads only.
I think one of Okafor/Noel goes to GSW for the MLE or a portion of it, and the other goes to Boston for the same. If either could get Noel to bite on the bi annual exception instead that would be ideal, but he could get more elsewhere.
Okafor and Noel? I don’t think you get GSW. And they already have McGee. Same thing.
I am a sixers fan. Okafor and Noel both suck
I think in a year or two their top rivals will be Philly, as they keep growing & learning & developing. They can have some crazy match ups for Golden State, who takes Ben Simmons, with Dario stretching at the 4 & then no one in Golden State can stop Embiid on the offensive end, but he can match with them in the defence, adding Fultz if he turns any good plus what they can get in the #10 on the draft plus if they sign anyone, I cannot see anyone in the east competing at all against them. & they would be lots of fun against Golden State, I mean at least Simmons & specially Embiid are great to watch, they would make the finals better with their presence, more spectacular than Golden State for sure.
Big lug Simmons needs to have OConnell on the court with him or he is exposed.
What Kevin Durant* is trying to say is “I’m going to continue being a coward and not gain any respect outside of golden state fans”
NBA is a joke. Bring back the hard salary cap. I can’t believe the ratings are so high with this garbage. I’m not a fan of either team, just a fan of sports.
Why did they even play regular or post season? And don’t mention Houston almost got them, it wasn’t even close.