When the free agency period begins at 12:01 ET on Sunday morning, Kevin Durant plans to sign a one-year guaranteed deal with the Warriors, that will include a player option for the 2019-20 season, allowing Durant to return to free agency next summer, Marc Stein of the New York Times is reporting.
Kevin Durant plans to tell the Warriors after 12:01 a.m. ET that he wants a new one-year contract with a player option for 2019-20 to return to free agency next summer, @NYTSports has learned
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
The new deal would pay Durant $30.5 million next season and allow the two-time reigning Finals MVP to return to free agency in July 2019 — three months before Golden State moves into the new Chase Center in San Francisco https://t.co/Q3qklVsrkz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
Signing Durant to a shorter-term deal will help Golden State financially in the short term, but means that both he, and Klay Thompson, will likely become unrestricted free agents next offseason. Durant could’ve earned the max — worth around $35 million per year — had he elected to take a deal guaranteed for two-years. The deal will save Golden State around $20 million in luxury tax penalties this year according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Durant’s deal for next season is likely to be worth around $30 million.
I think, given a choice, the Warriors would’ve preferred the 3+1 full max for security, but this 1+1 at least gives them about $20 mil in tax savings https://t.co/M2XkaG6aBD
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 1, 2018