Brooklyn Nets superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving took less than the max so the franchise could sign DeAndre Jordan as well.
Irving and Durant converted a chunk of their salaries into performance-based bonuses to create room for Jordan, according to Leo Sepkowitz of Bleacher Report:
This free-agency decision was made over FaceTime. Jordan recalls the conversation as fairly casual, even anticlimactic. All three players had long appreciated Brooklyn—the culture and talent the team had in place—and, on the eve of free agency, confirmed the decision with each other. (As for the financial logistics, Jordan's agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, confirms the Nets could not have fit Jordan under the cap if his co-stars hadn't taken less money. Irving and Durant converted a chunk of their salaries into performance-based bonuses to create room.)
As part of a sign and trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, Durant signed a four-year, $164.3 million contract with the Nets. Irving, meanwhile, signed a four-year, $136.5 million deal with the Nets.
Jordan was able to get a four-year, $40 million deal with Brooklyn after Durant and Irving took less money.
When Durant plays next season, the Nets will be one of the favorites to win the championship.
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