The Golden State Warriors are highly unlikely to pursue a very complicated delayed sign-and-trade that would have the organization sign Kevin Durant to a maximum contract of five years at $221 million, only to rehabilitate him and later trade him to a team of his preference in hopes of recouping assets.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, while that is still a possibility, it's a rather remote one, given the awkwardness of the process and the little return they'd likely get for their trouble:
Early indications are the Warriors aren’t seriously exploring that convoluted path. Beyond possible CBA circumvention issues, it would be both absurdly expensive and internally awkward with only a future chance at slightly helpful assets. Translation: Not worth it.
Slater wouldn't rule out a potential signing and eventual trade, but was quick to note that if the Warriors do sign him to a five-year max deal, they intend to keep him and get that money's worth:
Things can go south quickly in this league. But if the Warriors get Durant back on his five-year max, it’d be with the initial expectation that his next game would be in their uniform, whenever that may be.
Golden State is simply not going to pay Durant upwards of $40 million a year to simply recover in its facility and then fish for a return.
While it is a nice sentiment and a nice thank you check, the Warriors don't stand to win much by doing that, given that whatever future assets and roster pieces they could get in return would only come back with the same heavy luxury tax implications — forcing them to drop a player or make further moves to find a way back into a sensible payroll.
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