The Brooklyn Nets have given Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant a fourth-year player option in their respective four-year max contracts, including $1 million in unlikely bonuses, respectively, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks. Both players could potentially hit the free agent market at the same time, both able to opt out of their contracts by 2022 and become unrestricted free agents.

This bonus structure would allow them to maneuver a way to fit the contracts of DeAndre Jordan and second-round pick Nicolas Claxton into their cap space, removing a combined $2 million in payroll.

Irving's contract is especially interesting, as it boasts eight separate incentives of $125,000 each, all deemed “unlikely” and therefore not included in the Nets' cap hit. His initial salary for the 2019-20 season will be $31,720,000 — exactly $1 million short of the maximum possible.

If Irving triggers all eight bonuses, he would make up that difference and receive the full amount of his maximum contract — a performance-based incentive by the Nets.

These stipulations are as follows, per Lowe and Marks:

  • He appears in at least 70 regular-season games.
  • He appears in at least 60 regular-season games and averages fewer than 2.4 turnovers per game. Irving has averaged 2.6 turnovers per game over his career, and between 2.3 and 2.7 in each of his last six seasons.
  • He appears in at least 60 regular-season games and attempts at least 4.6 free throws per game. Irving has averaged 4.4 free throws per game for his career, and has fallen below the 4.6 mark in each of his last two seasons.
  • He shoots 88.5 percent or better from the foul line in the regular-season. Irving is a career 87.5 percent free throw shooter. He has cracked the 88.5 percent mark in three of his eight career seasons.
  • He makes at least 2.8 3-pointers per game in the regular-season. Irving has accomplished that just once in eight seasons. He has averaged 2.1 made 3s per game over his career.
  • He commits fewer than 2.1 fouls per game in the regular-season. His career average: 2.2.
  • Nets score at least 114 points per 100 possessions in the regular-season with Irving on the floor. Only two teams — Golden State and Houston — topped that mark last season, per NBA.com, though teams generally score more efficiently with their best offensive players on the floor.
  • The Nets allow 106 or fewer points per 100 possessions in the regular season with Irving on the floor. Only three teams averaged 106 or fewer points allowed per 100 possessions in the regular-season, per NBA.com.
Article Continues Below
More Brooklyn Nets News
Connecticut Huskies forward Liam McNeeley (30) reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Lenovo Center.
Brooklyn Nets’ perfect outcome for No. 19 pick in 2025 NBA DraftRohan Brahmbhatt ·
image thumbnail
The Ja Morant trade Grizzlies must consider after Desmond Bane blockbusterGarrett Kerman ·
Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) shoots over Boston College Eagles forward Chad Venning (32) during the first half at Maples Pavilion.
Brooklyn Nets’ perfect outcome for picks 26, 27 in 2025 NBA DraftZachary Howell ·
image thumbnail
Kon Knueppel turns heads with shocking NBA draft testing resultsErik Slater ·
image thumbnail
Why Nets’ 2025, 2026 NBA Drafts will be most important in franchise historyErik Slater ·
image thumbnail
Celtics rumors: Boston’s trade outlook gets ‘positive’ twistErik Slater ·

Due to the ascending nature of his contract, these same stipulations repeat at an increased dollar rate in each season of his four-year contract.

As for Durant, he will unlock a $1 million bonus if any one of the following occur:

  • The Nets make the playoffs.
  • The Nets win 43 or more games.
  • Durant plays in at least 50 regular-season games.
  • Durant makes the All-Star team.

Durant is much more accomplished as a player and will be judged more on his health after returning from an Achilles injury, as well as the impact he has with the team in terms of its overall success.