Still fresh from winning his first NBA championship ring, superstar Kevin Durant will opt out of his contract with the Golden State warriors but plans to sign a new deal. League sources told ESPN that Durant will decline the $28 million player option on the second year of the two-year, $54 million contract that he signed with the Warriors last season. Technically, he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but he commits to stay with the Warriors in his desire to win more championships.
According to ESPN, Durant is willing to ask for just a 20-percent increase from his last season’s salary of $26.5 million so the Warriors can accommodate other important free agents like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livington.
If that pushes through, Durant’s salary for next season with be around $31.8 million, almost $4 million less than the maximum salary of $35.5 million. Sources said that Durant may sign another one-plus-one deal, which carries a player-option at the end, as he waits to ink a long-term deal with the Warriors after this season.
Iguodala plans to leave Warriors?
Contrary to his earlier declaration, Iguodala may plan to leave the Warriors in free agency and seek a huge contract from other teams. Last week, it was reported that Iguodala is set to sign a new long-term deal with the Warriors with an annual salary of $10 to $12 million. According to sources, both camps are just ironing out the number of years on the deal and it will be signed anytime.
However, CBS Sports reports that Iguodala is planning to leave the Warriors and pursue other offers. Among those intested in Iguodala’s services are the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and the Utah Jazz. Sources state there are four teams that are willing to pay Iguodala a huge payday with an annual salary close to $20 million.
Warriors need to keep other free agents
The Warriors cannot afford giving Iguodala a $20 million annual salary as they need to sign Steph Curry to a maximum five-year deal worth in excess of $200 million. They also need to keep some of their players who will turn free agents in the summer. Among those who will turn free agents are David West, Ian Clark, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, David West, James Michael McAdoo and Matt Barnes.
Iguodala has been instrumental in the Warriors’ resurgence as their dependable sixth man. In his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets, Iguodala was a starter but he accepted a backup role with the Warriors when they joined them in 2013.
