From the end of May to early this
June, the NBA decided which of its two Conference champions would be the top
team of the league for the 2018-19 Season. The defending champions the Golden State
Warriors came into the Finals with one of its top players sidelined by injury:
Kevin Durant. Against the first-time Finalists the Toronto Raptors Golden State
received a heavy pounding, winning one game with several more players getting
injured and winning a second time with Durant playing until a ruptured Achilles
tendon. The Raptors would win the NBA Championship for the first time, while a recovering
Durant has decided not to stick with the Warriors.
ESPN has it that Kevin Durant has determined that he will go next
season as an unrestricted free agent in the NBA, following his declining of a
player option with the Golden State Warriors amounting to $31.5 million. This
decision was forwarded to Golden State general manager Bob Myers by Durant’s
business manager Rich Kleiman. He and Durant have been busy trying to chart
what the latter will do next upon entering unrestricted free agency in the
league. So far, possible options have being signing up with the New York
Knicks, LA, Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and even returning to the Warriors under a
new arrangement.
While the above-mentioned teams
will only be all too eager at a chance to put Durant in their roster, there is
also the consideration of the fact that the ace player is still nursing his
injuries sustained from the lead-up to the NBA Finals and the Finals Game 5
itself. It is certain however that Durant will be offered max contract by
whichever team can garner his interest, to the tune of $164 million. On the
other hand, Golden State can vie to retain him by offering $221 million that
will last for five years.
It is only understandable that
the Warriors use every means to keep Kevin Durant on side. After he joined them
during the 2016-17 NBA Season, the former Seattle Supersonic/Oklahoma City
Thunder (2007-16) has been a major architect in Golden State winning two
consecutive NBA titles from 2016-17 to 2017-18. He himself was made MVP both
times. The team was in good shape to make the mythical NBA Championship
three-peat in the recently-concluded season, only to be frustrated by the
Raptors.
Even as Durant and Rich Kleiman
continue to iron out the NBA superstar’s free agent future, they are also
taking into consideration that he might need to dial down for the 2019-20
Season in order to better rehabilitate his injury.
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