Bob Myers said his contract offer to Kevin Durant can start at max money and max years, but KD controls the negotiation: “Whatever he wants” pic.twitter.com/phkR6z62UP
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 11, 2018
This summer will be a busy period for the Warriors front office personnel, as they restructure many of their stars’ contracts without dipping too much into the luxury tax threshold.
At the center of those talks is Kevin Durant, coming off his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award. The four-time scoring champion will become an unrestricted free agent and plans to negotiate a more lucrative deal. Prior to the 2016-17 season, he took a $10 million pay cut to make room for Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala on the roster.
Durant has indicated he will not do the same again, a decision that seemingly will not be met with resistance from the Warriors front office.
“(He can have) whatever he wants,” general manager Bob Myers told reporters Monday afternoon. “Sometimes, you don’t negotiate.”
The only potential road block in Golden State’s quest to three-peat, and beyond, is money distribution. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will reportedly be offered contract extensions this offseason before their deals expire in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Stephen Curry’s supermax contract has him making more than $37 million next year.
Myers and his staff plan on rewarding Durant with the contract he deserves, regardless of the lofty price or length.
“I’d love to have him for 10 years,” Myers said. “Kevin Durant, what he did for us last year, he did us a great service. He has earned the right to sign whatever deal he wants. I just want him to sign a deal. I want him to be happy, and we want him as long as he wants to be here. He has earned that.”
