Golden State Warriors Rumors: Latest on Kevin Durant’s free agency plans

Last week, Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant provided us with some rare insight into his plans for 2019 NBA free agency.

Despite the ongoing NBA season and the Golden State Warriors‘ recent struggles on the court, one of the main storylines over the last couple of months has been Kevin Durant and his plans for 2019 NBA free agency. Seems a bit premature, but this is the NBA after all.

Well, as it so happens, Durant provided us with some insight into his mindset as we inch our way closer to next offseason. It’s rather surprising, especially considering how cryptic and kept to themselves superstars usually are when it comes to the future.

Regardless, here’s what Durant had to say during the Posted Up with Chris Haynes podcast (h/t to Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp):

"“I just want to make sure I get as much money as I can on my next deal so I can stack up my money and figure it out. That’s just the plan. Play basketball and stack money.”"

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Well, as you all probably know, the way for Durant to get as much money as he can on his next contract would be to re-sign with the Warriors. The former NBA MVP qualifies for the super-max extension, which would guarantee him an estimated $221 million over the next five years. That would be plenty of dough for Durant to stack.

Meanwhile, if he were to sign elsewhere during 2019 NBA free agency, he wouldn’t get nearly as much money. Any deal he inks with a team other than the Warriors would cap out at $164 million over the next four years. So not only is the figure smaller, but so is the length of the contract.

You can’t blame the NBA for not incentivizing stars to stay put.

There’s one other significant piece to consider here: Durant has already given the Warriors a discount once. In order to facilitate a max-contract offer for Stephen Curry, he accepted less than the max ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

On the surface, that could be a good thing for the Warriors. He wants to get paid now after sacrificing earlier, and staying with Golden State is the best way to do it. On the other hand, it could mean that he’s still willing to take less money for the right situation. If he thinks he’s worn out his welcome with the Warriors, other scenarios could become tempting.

Maybe joining LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers? Or starting from scratch with the New York Knicks? There will definitely be options for Durant if he seeks them this offseason.

For now, though, let’s rest easy knowing that decision is still several months away. Durant is a Warrior, and will play a pivotal role in the franchise’s pursuit of a third-straight championship. Plus, they have the most to offer when 2019 NBA free agency arrive, so don’t hit the panic button just yet.