© Jesse Johnson | 2019 Mar 29
The first step in Kevin Durant’s 2019 free agent odyssey is over. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has declined his $31.5 million player option with the Warriors for the 2019-20 season, and will become an unrestricted free agent when the period begins on Sunday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant has declined his $31.5M player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN. Durant and his business manager Rich Kleiman are in New York, evaluating free agency options. So far, process has stayed private.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2019
Opting into what would essentially be a one year deal never really made sense for either Durant or the Warriors, after KD sustained an Achilles rupture during the Finals that will keep him out for all of next year. Golden State is now in a position to offer Durant a supermax contract, worth five-years and $221 million. If Durant signs elsewhere, the maximum amount he can receive is four-years, $164 million.
Despite the $77 million that Durant would leave on the table if he signed with a different team, the oddsmakers believe that KD is most likely to sign with Brooklyn, possibly to team up with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving. Woj reported yesterday that he believes Durant and the Warriors have remained in communication, and indicator that the report that Durant is “pissed off” at Golden State’s handling of his injury situation, is probably overblown.
Now, we wait.