Kevin Durant re-signed with the Golden State Warriors in July on a two-year, $61.5 million max contract, with the second year of the deal being a player-option.
Called a one-plus-one deal, Durant said his new contract leaves his financial and team options open. The nine-time All-Star will make $30 million this season and $31.5 million for the option year in 2019 if he picks it up. If he doesn’t pick it up, Durant will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
The two-time Finals MVP knows his potential free agency will be a frequent talking point throughout this season. Durant says he plans to be honest and transparent throughout the process.
“Just be honest,” Durant told Nick Friedell of ESPN. “I was honest with my decision, but just like outwardly if people ask me about it, don't be ashamed to talk about why I decided to move teams and switch teams because it's not the end of the world. I didn't do anything against the law, you know what I'm saying? That's what I thought happened the first time.
“I'm like, ‘Man, there's so much attention on me because I switched teams.' I thought I did something wrong, but I knew deep down in my heart that was the perfect decision for me and I know that now I just got to stand on that, outwardly say it, and that will stop the speculation from a lot of people. When they don't know, when people really don't know the end, the conclusion or why I did something, they're going to always speculate and create stories and clicks and that's only going to make me more upset. So I'd just rather keep it open and transparent with you.”
Kevin Durant received a lot of heat for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Warriors. The Thunder had a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, but Durant shrinked under the pressure and Golden State won three games in a row to advance to the NBA Finals.
Outside of Golden State, Durant is booed everywhere he goes. He's pretty much getting the same treatment LeBron James got when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 for the Miami Heat. Since joining the Warriors, Durant has won two championships. He is averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in 130 regular season games with Golden State.
Barring something unforeseen, Durant and the Warriors are likely going to win their third-straight championship in 2018-19. If that occurs, will Durant leave Golden State and take on a new challenge elsewhere? Only time will tell.