2014 MVP Kevin Durant will have his player option declined for this season which will result in him becoming a free agent technically on July 1. However, according to ESPN, multiple league sources confirm that Durant will resign with the Golden State Warriors.The ten-year veteran and winner of the NBA Finals MVP for the 2017 NBA championship will decline his $28 million player option to take less than what he is qualified. The intention of this is to help the Golden State Warriors in their case of resigning the sixth man of the year finalist Andre Iguodala as told by multiple league sources.
Durant wants to stay in Golden State
Kevin Durant superstar of the Golden State Warriors has mad his intentions clear that he will opt out of his current deal, but he still intends to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors as reported by Chris Haynes of ESPN on Monday. As Haynes said, Durant stands ready to accept a more team oriented deal to help the Warriors resign veteran Andre Iguodala.
As reported by Shams Charania of The Vertical many teams throughout the league have a substantial interest in Iguodala and would be willing to pay him as much as $20 million a year to have his services will the team. There are four Warriors free agents this summer and Iguodala is one of them which allows the Warriors to exceed the salary cap if they resign him.
As noted by Haynes the Golden State Warriors could be helped by Kevin Durant in reacquiring the services of Andre Iguodala by Durant if Durant decides to take a pay cut of $4 million below his max contract value for the 2017-18 season.
Durant a great debut season with the Warriors
Technically Durant can become a free agent; it is highly unlikely that he does decide to leave the Golden State Warriors.
This scenario is similar to LeBron James' case last year where he opted out of his current deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers before resigning a new deal. In his first season with the Warriors Durant averaged a stat line of 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He also won his first championship while also taking home Finals MVP honors this was the Warriors second championship in three years.
Many experts are wondering whether the Warriors can retain important role players such as Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala who have played just as an important part of the Warriors success in recent years, rather than securing the long-term future of the duo of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry with the later being an unrestricted free agent. The reality is Kevin Durant will do everything in his power for the team to be able to resign Andre Iguodala which demonstrates his willingness to help the Golden State Warriors achieve their long-term goals.
