Kevin Durant‘s uncertain future has been hanging over the Warriors all season long, particularly since a heated on-court confrontation back in November in which Draymond Green reportedly accused Durant of planning to leave at season’s end. However, speaking to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Green suggested that neither KD’s upcoming free agency nor that November incident is a pressing concern in the locker room.
“It’s not important,” Green said. “We’re not about to sit around and walk around, or carry something around, that happened in November.”
Green didn’t deny that this may be Durant’s last season with the Warriors, but tells Amick that he and his teammates are focused on winning their third consecutive championship, regardless of what happens after that in free agency.
“He’s part of it right now,” Green said of Durant. “Whatever happens this summer happens. Whatever the hell he does, he does. If he goes, he goes. If he stays, he stays. But while he’s here, we’re going to win another championship. It’s just that simple. Nothing else matters.”
After signing short-term contracts with the Warriors in each of the last three offseasons, Durant will have full Bird rights this summer, which would allow for a five-year, maximum-salary contract projected to be worth approximately $221MM. He could max out at approximately $164MM over four years with another team.
However, while Durant’s forays into free agency in 2017 and 2018 were viewed as mere formalities due to an expectation that he’d re-sign with the Warriors, his upcoming free agency feels much different. Multiple reports throughout 2018/19 have indicated that people around the league view Durant as more likely to sign with the Knicks than the Warriors this summer.
If Golden State can complete a three-peat this June, Durant would head into July faced with a decision on whether or not to leave a team that hasn’t lost a playoff series since he arrived.
I respect some of these takes. There’s no reason for teammates to worry about Durant’s 2020 season until the end of this season. They can’t control that.
End of 2019 season bud, he is leaving this summer not next.
2019-2020 season. They probably don’t even need to worry about Durant until the playoffs so 2020 is apt.
All of the reasons people give for Durant leaving are no good. They’re not good reasons to leave.
Seriously why would he leave? To be his own man on a crummy team? Nope
To get more shots? Nope
To head up another dream team? nope, won’t be as much fun as the Warriors.
To make more money? Nope salary and endorsements both higher with the Warriors.
There is absolutely no reason to leave. No good reason.
& your point is? He doesn’t need a good reason, right?
Put it this way GSW are not going to worry about him leaving. If he leaves it opens the door for Cousins to come back. Cousins would come back in a heart beat. Thompson is the choice of GSW fans who is more important to bring back next year.
They can’t afford to resign Cousins and Klay even if Durant left. Try again fan boy.
Endorsements would definitely be higher at the Knicks, just saying.
Sorry but if there a league or cap reason the Warriors can’t sign KD to extension like right now? I mean, making money is great but winning constantly is also nice. I’m sure KD wants that combo still…
A player on a veteran contract only becomes extension-eligible on the date two years after he signed the original contract. So a player who signs a contract shorter than three years can’t be extended.
Durant HAS been with the Warriors for three years, but he just signed his current contract last summer, so he’s not extension-eligible.
If the Warriors win again this year that will be 3 in a row. That would mean the following year the team could make history by being the first since Bill Russell’s Celtics to win four in a row. MJ couldn’t do that. Kobe couldn’t do that. And Lebron couldn’t do that. Unless the Warriors lose I cant see KD not trying to go for that. Klay too for that matter.
Jorden would have done it, perhaps 8 times in a row, if he didn’t retire for 2 years to play baseball in between the two threepeats…
**Jordan
MJ could have done it easily, he just didn’t. Also you can’t make history by doing something that has been done before. Warriors fans are the best lol
This comment makes no sense at all. Like, every aspect of it is wrong. Warriors fans been through hell like Lakers and Celtics fans could never imagine, they deserve all these titles.
As I said many times, I stayed home from work to watch The Warriors draft Todd Fuller Ike diogu, Patrick O’Bryant, Andrew declercq, Marco Belinelli before he could shoot Jiri Welsh, etc.
The 80s and the 90s were rough time to be a Warriors fan let me tell you. Terry teagle Lewis Lloyd Jim Peterson Ralph Sampson right before he retired cuz he couldn’t walk, the Gunner sleepy Floyd, Lester Conner couldn’t shoot, starting center 6-7 Larry Smith….
Sorry I was replying to the person that said the Warriors fans are the best. He has a point we stick to the team. I guess most good fans are like that you have a team you stick with them through thick and thin.
Why only name the bad ones? Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Latrell Sprewell, C-Webb, Antawn Jamieson… Lots of fun there!
Because those were the tough years. There was a few good years yes but just proving that I’m a true fan by sticking with them during the tough years. Anybody can name Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter.
The whole organization knows, win or lose, this is the end of this current goup – players AND coaches – as we know it. They know this, they know there are issues, drama, people tired of each other and there’s borderline dislike, and they’re trying to finish it off and somewhat “steal” a championship. Next time this group will all be together is during an on-court reunion several years from now.
*group