The more things change for Kevin Durant this offseason, the more they’ll stay the same.
The Golden State Warriors superstar plans to opt out of his contract this summer before restructuring his deal in order to remain with the team, ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported Wednesday, citing NBA sources. Durant currently is playing under the team-friendly two-year, $51 million contract he signed last offseason, but he’ll reportedly decline the 2018-19 player option his deal contains and pursue an agreement that better reflects his status as one of the sport’s premier players.
Durant, 29, last month confirmed to reporters he’s 100 percent certain to return to the Warriors next season. That statement represents the “what” about Durant’s future plans, and Haynes’ report begins to answer the “how?”
Durant is eligible to sign a four-year max contract, which would pay him $158 million. Other possibilities include signing two- or three-year deals that would contain player options the year before they’re set to expire.
However negotiations pan out, expect the roots Durant has planted in the Bay Area to continue spreading and the Warriors to remain among the NBA’s elite teams.
