.@WindhorstESPN on The Warriors offseason plans for KD & Klay: "Their intention is to continue and offer Kevin Durant a full five-year max contract and to offer Klay a full five-year max contract." pic.twitter.com/P07iEBrPc4
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) June 14, 2019
As fate would have it, the two Warriors stars that are slated to hit free agency next season both sustained debilitating injuries in what was a truly bizarre NBA Finals. Now Golden State must look to the future, and decide what to do with both players.
The respective situations are slightly different. Durant has a player option for next season, but is expected to decline it and hit unrestricted free agency. His torn Achilles will almost certainly keep him on the shelf for all of next season.
Thompson’s situation is a little more straight forward. He’s due to become an unrestricted free agent, but will miss at least half the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
Regardless, the Warriors are still expected to offer five-year max deals to both, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“It is my understanding, and talking with people in the Warriors organization, that their intention is to continue and offer Kevin Durant a full five-year max contract and to offer Klay (Thompson) a full five-year max contract,” Windhorst said Friday morning on “First Take.”
If the Warriors were to lock up both, it would leave Draymond Green as the only member of the Golden State core with an uncertain future, as the former Defensive Player of the Year is slated to become a free agent next offseason.
“Those two decisions would put their payroll — including luxury taxes — over $350 million, and they’re going to be able to pay for it because they’re going to move across the Bay to a cash-cow arena, which is going to increase their team revenue enough to pay for it,” Windhorst explained.
It’s nice to see that despite the cost, Joe Lacob and Co. are willing to spend big to keep this group together.
