Kevin Durant indicated several days ago that he fully intends to re-sign with the Warriors after opting out of his contract this summer, and it doesn’t sound like president of basketball operations Bob Myers will draw any sort of hard line in negotiations. As Janie McCauley of The Associated Press relays, Myers said the team is prepared to give Durant “whatever he wants.”
“Sometimes you don’t negotiate. I’d love to have him for 10 years. Kevin Durant, look what he did for us last year, he did us a great service,” Myers said. “He’s earned the right to sign whatever deal he wants. I just want him to sign a deal. But want him to be happy and want him to know that we want him as long as he wants to be here. He’s earned that, to kind of lay out the terms. He can do whatever he wants. That shouldn’t be a long negotiation.”
In each of the last two summers, Durant has signed a two-year contract with a second-year player option in order to maximize his flexibility. However, the Early Bird exception prohibits that sort of deal. If the Warriors re-sign the star forward using his Early Bird rights, the contract would have to be for at least two years (with no options) and couldn’t exceed four years.
Durant could still sign a one-year pact with an eye toward hitting free agency again in 2019, when he’ll have full Bird rights and could sign a five-year contract. But a one-year deal this year would use the Non-Bird exception and wouldn’t allow him to earn his full max, since he accepted a discount last summer. As such, Durant will have some decisions to make this offseason, and it sounds like the Warriors are ready to accommodate whatever path he chooses.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have a few other extension candidates to keep an eye on this summer, including Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr. For his part, Kerr said he expects to get a new agreement “done pretty quick,” suggesting that wouldn’t be an acrimonious negotiation either. As for Thompson and Green, Myers agreed with team owner Joe Lacob that the team will explore new deals for those stars this offseason, but suggested that won’t necessarily be a top priority.
“It’s a lot of different conversations that have to take place and if that’s something that we want to look into, I’m sure we could have those (conversations),” Myers said. “Klay’s got another year, Draymond’s got two more. Kevin’s really the free agent we have to focus on.”
It’s called a Max Contract.
who is going to be the odd man out eventually Klay right has to be ?
Has to be Klay… I’d prefer him over Steph but there’s no chance they let Steph out the door ..
Klay makes the most sense, but he seems like the type who might be willing to take less to stay in Golden State. Not that Draymond wouldn’t either, but I could see him being the odd one out as I think Klay will remain more effective for the long haul than Draymond will.
I have to think after 3 titles Klay gets the itch to go somewhere and be the “man” I mean typically players take discounts for home town teams or to win a ring when they have not won one, so I imagine he has to be odd man out .. unless they think bell or looney has made draymond expendable.
I don’t think that Bell or Looney are Draymond-lite, but for that exact reason you just said, I could see Draymond going out on his own. Even though Klay plays 3rd fiddle, everyone has seen what Klay could do in a bigger role when Curry and KD have sat. On the other hand, I could see Draymond leaving to try and prove that he could still play well, if not better, in a bigger role. If the money is the same, Klay is a more important piece to their puzzle than Draymond is imo and unless they think McCaw or whoever they may draft this year can replace him, I think Klay is more likely to stick around.
Sucks cause he’s the lowest maintenance and always steps up when one of the others are down. And Steph and KD have been injured too. He’s such a valuable player, I’d argue Draymond is more expendable at this point.
Can they give him the respect he’ll never get for the way he has gotten his ‘ships? JK.. he never wanted that to begin with
Get over yourself. I don’t think KD needs or wants any of our respect. I’m so sick of people acting like if the situation was changed they wouldn’t go take a better job, in a better living situation, and one that not only brings them more satisfaction and reward but also personal accolades
yeah what gets lost in the shuffle is KD went from OKC to the BAY AREA I mean you can not even compare the 2.. weather , food , women , culture the list goes on and on.
I think Draymond could be the one to go eventually. I understand his qualities, but his volatile nature goes beyond sportsmanship at times, and yes he’s their defensive talisman, but I can think of so many swing forward defensive-minded players who would thrive surrounded by KD, Klay and Steph.
That said, they have the money to keep them together, and shouldn’t be penalised for drafting mid rounders, second rounders and then signing a free agent.
They need to keep the group together – they have at least another four years, barring injury, of everyone’s prime, and free agents will continue to beat a path to their bench in the very real hope of a ring
Only in a league with a maximum salary could a team president make this statement.
The league is all about shooters & defense?
Durant = Best shooter, 3rd best defender
Curry = 2nd best shooter
Klay = 3rd best shooter & best defender.
Draymond = average shooter, 2nd best defender.
Draymond I can replace with a combination of players if needed. Don’t need to get 11-7-7-1-1.
They will keep them all, tax is not a big issue, they have money to pay it, so happy days for Golden State.
If Draymond is asking for a super max deal they will not be able to keep them all.