o*o
发帖数: 404 | 1 这是在向勇士高层喊话，要FMVP吧。
OAKLAND, Calif. --Golden State WarriorsforwardKevin Durantis
willing to take less than the maximum contract extension he is eligible for
this summer as a 10-year veteran if it helps the Warriors keep the core of
their team intact, league sources told ESPN.
Durant's gesture would allow the Warriors to keep their entire core together
for years to come. That's even if star point guardStephen Curry
signs one of the first five-year, "supermax" contracts under the new
collective bargaining agreement in which a team can reward one designated
veteran per year with a contract starting at 35 percent of next year's
projected $101 million salary cap.
This is particularly relevant to free agentsAndre Iguodalaand
Shaun Livingston, who have been pivotal to the Warriors' success as they
have advanced to three straight NBA Finals.
In order to sign Durant to the maximum possible extension this offseason,
starting at an estimated $35.4 million per year, the Warriors would have to
renounce their rights to Iguodala and Livingston to create room under the
salary cap. The most they can pay Durant in 2017-18 without creating cap
space is 120 percent of his 2016-17 salary, a little less than $32 million.
Curry, long one of the league's most underpaid stars at about $11 million
per year, could then sign a new contract starting at $35.4 million a season
and worth about $205 million over the next five years.
But because Durant is willing to take less than the maximum he is eligible
for this season, according to league sources, the Warriors would not need to
create room under the cap to re-sign him and thus would not need to
renounce their rights to any of their other free agents.
By taking about $4 million less than his max next year and waiting to
get his long-term extension for at least another season, Kevin Durant would
give the Warriors a better chance at re-signing Andre Iguodala and Shaun
Livingston, who will be free agents.Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images
Durant could sign a so-called "non-Bird" extension for up to four years, but
a more likely scenario would have him sign another two-year deal, with a
player option on the second year (similar to whatLeBron Jamesdid in
Cleveland for several years). Durant would then be eligible for another one-
plus-one deal next year starting at an estimated $35.7 million and a five-
year, supermax contract of about $217 starting in 2019-20.
By taking about $4 million less than his max next year and waiting to get
his long-term extension for at least another season, Durant would allow the
Warriors a chance to use their Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents
(mostly notably Iguodala and Livingston) to deals far more comparable to
what they'd likely see on the open market.
Iguodala is expected to receive interest from a number of teams such as
Phoenix, Minnesota and Atlanta, league sources tell ESPN.
While sources stressed that Durant has not yet decided on how to structure
his next contract, it is believed he's willing to take less than the maximum
he's eligible for this summer in order to keep the Warriors' core together
and give them the best chance of contending for years to come.
Durant has said on multiple occasions that he intends to stay with the
Warriors for many years, and he has put roots down in the Bay Area both
personally and professionally. Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman
have set up their business, the Durant Company, in the Bay Area. He has
forged partnerships with California-based companies such as YouTube, Acorns
and Postmates. In a New York Times profile this spring, Durant revealed that
he is in business with Silicon Valley "super angel" investor Ronald Conway
and consulting with Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve
Jobs.
According to the Times story, Durant and Kleiman watched the election
results at the home of Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for internet
software and services, along with Tim Cook, Apple chief executive, and
Pharrell Williams.
For the past four years, Curry has been one of the best bargains in the NBA,
despite winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2015 and 2016.
Curry's contract, which was signed at a time when concerns over his
chronically sprained ankles cast doubt that he'd reach his enormous
potential, has enabled the Warriors to surround him with a stronger
supporting cast than other teams with multiple superstars. |
