JULY 6: Durant has officially re-signed with the Warriors, per RealGM’s transactions log.
JULY 3: Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year, $53MM contact with the Warriors, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com tweets. The second year will be a player option, Haynes adds in another tweet. Durant’s salary for next season will be $25MM, Sam Amick of USA Today tweets.
Durant’s willingness to take far less than a 20% raise aided the Warriors’ efforts to retain their free agents, Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Durant, who opted out of his contract with the full intention of re-signing with Golden State, was eligible to receive a maximum starting salary of $34.65MM. Durant, who made $26.54MM last season, decided to take significantly less than the expected 20% raise that would have secured him a $31.8MM salary for next season.
That is a major reason why the Warriors successfully negotiated new contracts with free agents Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. Iguodala, who was sought after by numerous clubs, agreed to a three-year, $48MM deal while Livingston agreed to stay put for three years and $24MM. In essence, as Thompson points out, Durant is gifting part of his salary for next season to his teammates.
Durant’s discount will also help ownership save some money on its luxury tax bill, depending upon how far over the tax line the franchise goes. Durant’s first-year salary will save the franchise approximately $20MM, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who projects Golden State will now pay $32.4MM instead of $52.4MM in luxury taxes.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Yo he took wayyyy less for no reason
He took less so the Warriors can sign ppl
He literally just paid for Livingston. For as much respect I lost for him taking the cowards way to a ring this move gained some of it back. 8+ MIL less, haven’t seen that since Timmy D
They were keeping AI and Livingston regardless. This lowers their tax bill for now. Might help them in the future I guess
Injuries could happen and Houston & OKC are going to be nasty – nothing is set in stone.
Another player option so KD is going to do this ridiculous song and dance every year. This is ruining basketball.
Ignorant statement alert.
This isn’t ruining basketball. Greed is never a good thing for any reason ever.
Its not even greed. These players will be rich no matter what. It has nothing to do with money. KD is just spineless and a coward. Warrior fans refuse to accept the truth.
You sound like your bitter about him not being on your fave team. Sack up bro.
EAD, he took less money to help sign a teammate, did Kobe ever do that? Nope
Kobe didnt need to take a pay cut.
Why should he have to? The owners are the ones that wanted salary caps, so why is the onus on the players to make a sacrifice? If I was a player I’d milk the NBA for every last dollar.
KD is a legend and a HOFer and OKC were never going to win with him there, and chasing a title is something every single player does, but he’s a “coward” for it? Nope nope and nope.
I could care less if he was on my team or not. He is easily a hall of famer. Its not even that he left OKC. Its the fact he went to the warriors who would guarantee him a ring something he could not do on his own. All of that after his own team blew a 3-1 lead to the warriors which is the most pathetic of all. Stop living in your fantasy world where this is not a big deal
Do me a favor name ONE player that won a championship by them selves I hate KD on the warriors but he wanted the ring so you can’t get mad about it
Dirk in 2011 lol dude was their only all star. But I still agree
He was their only all-star but they had a loaded bench with 3 point shooters and defenders like Shawn Marion,Deshawn Stevenson, and Tyson Chandler. Also Jason Kidd who made the Mavs dynamic in the half court, Kidd on any team is automatic wins, remember the 54 win Knicks 2013? That Knicks team was constructed around Melo with veterans off the bench.
It’s a team game you silly billy. Players can’t win titles playing 1 on 5. Also nothing is guaranteed, injuries can happen at any moment and KD almost got his career ended by Zaza falling on his leg, which people like you seem to conveniently forget. Just give it up man, you are wrong on this.
If he was a Legend he’s at least win a series he was up 3-1 in with another HOG teammate.
OKC was never gonna win? They had a 3-1 lead over gs
So? They still didn’t beat them.
he literally took over the team. he didnt go to ride along, he went and drove the bus.
I actually agree with both of these perspectives. I’m a Cavs fan, so seeing LeBron do this every few years is pretty annoying, and eventually it just gets to the point where you want him to just officially commit long term, especially since he has a ton of money already. But then again, he brought the Cavs a title, so basically anything is a fair trade, and he has the right to do what he thinks is best for himself.
He’ll stay in Cleveland, Irving is only going to get better and he knows that. No one on any team he goes to is better the Uncle Drew.
He might dip to the Knicks to play with the unicorn when he has that opt-out option. Don’t be shocked if he leaves.
you’re high again haha, the Knicks lmao
Be nice now, it must be very hard waking up being a Knicks fan everyday. I pray for his soul.
But also: lol
If the Knicks get Griffin its very possible Bron goes there. David would get him all the pieces he wants but I know it might be a pipe dream.
“Why sure, I’ll leave the greatest team in history to join a team that’s a perpetual trainwreck on every single level.” – Kevin Durant, via Dionis.
Melo will be out of there, and he did praise Porzingis so thats something to keep and eye on :)
No, it isnt. Porzingis is a great player, acknowledging that means nothing other than he respects his game. Theyre similar types of players too, so yeah, kind of dumb to think that means anything.
Never say never =), what you scared to lose him? Lebron will KD’s a** next finals.
Not true Just Another Fan, I am a Knicks fan and find myself disagreeing with Dionis a lot.
Let’s Try to make the playoffs in the castrated Eastern Conference, before we talk these hypotheticals
Signed
Realistic Knick fan
Could care less if you agree or not chump, i don’t get payed for you to agree lol.
Sorry Dionis, like you I love my Knicks but they’ve let me down more times than I could count lol. I’m going to go out on a limb and say last time they won a championshop you weren’t even born. (Im Not taking shots my uncle wasn’t even born yet! Lol
Only thing that helped being Knicks fan was Cubs fans, who had it much worse but they just broke their 108 year championship drought.
It’s good to have hope! But for KD. No way. Theoretically Maybe Lebron if we hire Griffin, but still very remote.
Also I know this website doesn’t have edit but you meant to type “I don’t get PAID to agree with you” “Payed” isn’t english. Can you AGREE with me there
And Chump? really? Couldn’t have asked me what I disagreed with in a civilized manner?
Why should I? When half of you spat out insults?
Swaggy p might take his spot
only in the Nba can you take 25mill and it be considered a paycut…wish i was a foot taller…20 years younger with quick feet….
Millsap is making 30mil a year and Otto Porter was offered a max contract… its all relative.
This seals the deal for the Warriors being 2018 NBA Champs; Print the shirts.
Injuries could happen and Houston & OKC are going to be nasty – nothing is set in stone.
You are delousional. Rockets have 2 stars that will kesh horribly, no bench and a weak frontcourt. OKC couldn’t beat a weaker warriors team with durant so why does geroge change anything. Just get ready for cavs warriors part 4 which is just awful. All because of KD
mesh*
Lebron and Kyrie will take care of the Warriors next year, this was a learning curve. They had to adjust to KD being put in that system, it’s not the easiest job in the world. You are talking about a 73 win team who added a top 3 player in the NBA, that is pretty intense stuff, Michael and Pippen would have defended their legs away and watch trey after trey drop and lose.
Are Lebron and Kyrie even going to be on the same team next year? I’d say OKC and HOU are bigger threats to the Warriors now.
Nah I’m not counting out the Cavs.
Ok fine so shut up then and go put all your money on them winning a title if you’re sooo butthurt about it you might as well make some cheese to ease the pain of a guy you dont know using his free will to do what he wanted in his profession.
But you won’t and instead will just cry more.
The facts is Lebron’s teammates never come through in the Finals, hows he supposed to beat a team who won 73 games and all Durant had to do was not go 6-47 like Barnes did the previous year. Literally the Warriors were a problem as was, and Durant came and ruined the NBA lol, but the King will come back for his crown next season.
It doesn’t seal in a guarantee of a championship like JAF said injuries happen trades happen if NO fails that could change a lot of thing maybe Davis or Cousins gets traded to the C’s
Lebron is beating the Warriors next year, won’t be no repeat for your boy KD.
you keep saying LeBron is washed up, so which is it. Are you from the Philippines or another Asian country? their NBA views are usually off and that would explain a lot
Its sad Lebron gets left alone in the Finals(2014,2015,2017) he should be 6-2 really.
Is the NBA giving him his own solo team next year?
Lebron going 1-on-5 vs the Warriors is a tough ask.
Kyrie will be better, and so will everyone else. Full training camp for Korver also, Lebron already knows how GS is coming from now on, he WILL BE BACK like he told Kyrie.
Lol Dionis is such a good troll
But I never try to troll, idk what you are talking about.
If it’s $25mm this year then it can’t top out at $53mm total…he only would get a 5% raise with non-bird rights and that would only take him to $51.25mm total.
Guys with big time endorsements can afford to do this. He’s also made a lot of money this far.
Who?
I’ve never understood how KD joining the warriors as the cowards way, but Lebaby getting 2 stars to join him in Miami and only going back to Cleveland when they had Kylie and could get Love.
Always had high respect for KD and now seeing him do something I never thought I’d after Timmy D is basically give part of his salary so his team can sign someone else too. Kinda wonder how much less he makes on endorsements than LeBron and yet I doubt LeBron ever gives up money like that.
Time to put money down on the warriors and Bulls to win(one the championship and the other the lottery).
Warriors won’t beat the Cavs next year.
You’re right….
…they’ll beat the Celtics !!
Why? That Jose Calderon signing was the move that tips the scales in Cleveland’ s favor?
No Kyrie will be ready to help Lebron next year, they already know how the Warriors are coming.
i find myself wondering more with every comment you post, if you even know what a basketball is…..
I find myself wondering why you think I give a fu**? Lol
why didn’t Curry take less to help out? instead he happily took $40 mil a year and Durant has to hope he doesn’t suffer a catastrophic injury
Because Curry was the 80th highest paid player while winning 2 MVPs, come on this is obvious.
Because all along when KD was making top money, Curry was making 11 million a year on his ankle contract.
Durant can opt out next year and make the same or better than Curry next year if he chooses. Durant was a little restricted since the Warriors didn’t have his full rights compared to Curry. With that said, I think Durant pulls a Lebron and signs a shorter deal to retain his flexibility.
“He took less.”
Yeah, I bet that $6 million he left on the table that resulted in ownership saving $20 million won’t be paid back to him after he retires with eight figures worth of personal services fees.
The banks are going to find out that the Warriors owner doesn’t really have all that sports memorabilia they claim to have :-/
Everyone wants to blame KD for ruining basketball. How soon we forget the Warriors were the best team in the league before him. People act like he’s the only reason they won this year.
If you want to be mad be mad at half the teams that passed on Klay in the draft and every team that passed on Draymond. Or…
Give credit where it’s due! The Warriors took both those guys in the draft, took a huge risk when they drafted Curry because he originally did not want to come to Oakland, and give the players and staff credit for caring about winning and not themselves.
Most players of Iggy’s caliber wouldn’t gladly move to the bench to make the team better. Adding KD could have been a huge mistake. Not all stars can co-exist like that. Adding KD could have combusted if all the stars weren’t so unselfish. Draymond and Klay especially.
Finally people act like KD just tagged along to get a ring. They didn’t watch the series. At times he was the best player on the court and easily won MVP
I knew he’d resign!
KD saves organization $20m and enables Warriors to keep/use Bird rights to close Livingston and Iggy deals with the less than max deal. Great move for team and ownership. Crap on this if you want but the man gave up millions to do right for team and management. This is very unique and impressive, backing up team first with a huge financial hit to his own deal. Respect to KD!