Report: Durant to decline option, re-sign with Warriors on sub-max deal
Kevin Durant plans to decline his player option with the Golden State Warriors for the 2017-18 season, but his subsequent free agency will reportedly be a mere formality.
After opting out, Durant intends to re-up with the Warriors on a below-max deal, sources told ESPN's Chris Haynes.
The newly minted Finals MVP signed a one-plus-one contract with Golden State last summer, with the second-year option valued at approximately $28 million. As a 10-year veteran, with Bird rights belonging to the Warriors, he's eligible to sign a five-year max deal with the club worth upwards of $200 million.
His intention to re-sign for less than that amount is a way of improving the Warriors' chances of retaining swingman Andre Iguodala, sources told Haynes. The two-way super-sub - and front-runner for Sixth Man of the Year - is also headed for unrestricted free agency, and figures to command an annual salary in the vicinity of $15-20 million on the open market.
The most likely outcome is Durant signing another one-and-one deal, so he can opt out again and sign his long-term deal with the Warriors (possibly for the full max) in the summer of 2018, sources told Haynes.
Warriors point guard and reigning two-time MVP Steph Curry will also be an unrestricted free agent come July 1.