Is Kevin Durant Staying?
Kevin Durant hits free agency this summer with three primary options. He could re-sign in Oklahoma City for a max contract, taking the fifth year only they can offer him, starting around $25 million per year. He could sign with another team for a four-year max contract with the same starting point. Or Durant could re-sign in Oklahoma City on a two-year contract with a player option for the second year, commonly referred to as a “1+1” deal.
The 1+1 contract would allow Kevin Durant to stay in Oklahoma City for another season, making max money and keeping his options open. If this team breaks through, or he decides he wants to stay long-term, he opts out after next season and then signs for the maximum amount.
Because Durant will have played 10 seasons at that point, he is eligible for a greater percentage of the cap, dramatically increasing his earnings. It will allow him to make more money over a six-year period than any player in NBA history:
If KD decides to stay in OKC on a 1-yr deal, he'll be a 10-yr vet next summer with the chance to sign 5-yr ext.. 6-yr total: over $227M
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) May 31, 2016
The only downside to choosing this option is that he is in Oklahoma City another year, but that’s only a downside if he is unhappy there, which he has given no indication of.
Even more teams are slated to have significant cap space in 2017, and that would bring Durant to free agency at the same time as Russell Westbrook. They could choose to stay or leave together at that point. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that this “1+1” contract is currently Durant’s top option:
Most insiders see the most likely scenario at present to be Kevin Durant staying in OKC on a two-year max deal with an opt-out after Year 1.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 31, 2016
If Durant decides to leave, a number of suitors will come calling. Washington has been the most outspoken suitor for Durant for the past few years, but most teams in the league have been rumored to be “interested” at the very least. Stein lists out some of the prominent suitors:
Wizards, Heat, Celtics, Rockets, Knicks, Lakers, Spurs and, yes, Warriors ... all expected to pursue Kevin Durant in free agency this summer
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 31, 2016
Realistically, Oklahoma City’s chances at a title are nullified if Kevin Durant walks. While his departure would free up cap space, no player at Durant’s level is waiting to fill his spot in the rotation. The Thunder need him to stay. Does he comply? In about a month the Thunder and the world will have their answer.
Next: Waiters Island