The 2017 All-NBA teams announced Thursday morning featured a trio of Warriors, and the announcement was met with mixed reactions from players. Kevin Durant told reporters the recognition doesn’t mean too much to him, while Draymond Green took some exception to the selections and stuck up for teammate Klay Thompson, who wasn’t named to an All-NBA team.
Stephen Curry, on the other hand, was able to just back and smile, knowing he’s about to get a whole lot richer. Curry’s 2nd team selection, his fourth career All-NBA honor, locked in his eligibility to receive the NBA’s new Designated Player Veteran Extension when he becomes a free agent this offseason. The DPVE allows teams to resign their homegrown stars at higher salaries than players would be able to sign if they went elsewhere, and was implemented after Durant left Oklahoma City last offseason.
Curry is currently finishing the fourth and final year of a $44 million extension he signed before the 2012-13 season. He has been arguably the most underpaid player in the league since re-upping with the Dubs, and there’s no need to explain why. He’s shown no indication of wanting to leave Golden State this offseason, and for good reason – the Designated Player rule should allow him to become the highest paid player in NBA history.
The two-time MVP meets the criteria for the DPVE by virtue of playing with the same team his entire career, playing for at least seven seasons, and being named All-NBA in the season before signing the extension. There are other ways to become eligible for the “super-max” contract, as it’s come to be called, and Curry was really never in danger of not being eligible.
Forbes has said that Curry will be in line to make somewhere around $207 million over the length of a five year deal if and when he reaffirms his commitment to the Dubs this summer. The previous record for the NBA’s largest deal was set this past offseason when guard Mike Conley re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for 5 years and $153 million. Curry should pass the $40 million per year mark for the first time in NBA history.
Three other players who were named to the All-NBA teams on Thursday are eligible for the expensive DPVE deals: Russell Westbrook, James Harden and John Wall. Two players who would have been eligible but were not named All-NBA, Paul George and Gordon Hayward, now face uncertain futures as they begin the final seasons of their contracts in Indiana and Utah, respectively.
The Warriors and Curry have it easy given the mutual interest and clear value as one of the league’s best players. Joe Lacob and Bob Myers will be sure to compensate Curry fairly, particularly given the bargain they’ve gotten him at through the past few seasons.
When free agency rolls around in July, the Warriors will likely also have to negotiate with Durant, who has a player option for next season but could opt out to get a bigger deal, as the salary cap is expected to rise yet again this offseason. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are both under contract for at least the next two seasons after this one, so Durant and Curry will be the big fish to fry.
With Thursday’s news ensuring Curry will be eligible to cash in on more than $200 million, his contract negotiations should be fairly straightforward. Whether Golden State decides to lock him up early and then chase veteran free agents to fill in around their big four, or vice versa, Stephen Curry will almost certainly be both the team’s and league’s highest paid player next season.
