Durant Explains 2-Year Warriors Deal Rationale, May Join Lakers In 2019

Kevin Durant entered free agency in 2018 but as promised during the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers he re-signed with the Golden State Warriors on a two-year deal worth $61.5 million. The small forward’s new deal with the reigning back-to-back champions contains an option for the second year, which will allow him to become a free agent again in 2019.

Durant was free to sign any deal he wanted with the Warriors and a two-plus-one deal would have maximized his earnings, but he instead chose to sign a one-plus-one, which according to the two-time NBA Finals MVP is “perfect” as it will allow him to keep his options open in the future.

"I just want to take it a day at a time, and I don't want to look at my future now," Durant said of his new contract with Golden State, per Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, according to the Bleacher Report. "The [one-plus-one] was the perfect thing for me to do, to keep things open for me — financially and what I want to do. It's just one of those things."

Durant has faced a lot of criticism since his move to the Warriors after spending the first nine years of his career with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder. The timing of his move — after the latter were beaten by the Warriors in the West finals — was questioned.

But the 29-year-old has justified his move to the Bay Area team by helping them to two titles while winning the MVP in both the finals in the process. Both his wins have come against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were led by LeBron James.

James departed his hometown franchise this summer to sign a lucrative four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers — a move that was praised by Durant. The Warriors forward labeled the move "absolutely perfect" saying he has set an example to other NBA players.

Durant has now been linked with a move away from the Warriors in 2019 with the New York Knicks said to be interested. But according to Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard the two-time NBA champion could be thinking of joining James at the Staples Center in 2019.

“This makes me believe that in the back of Kevin Durant’s mind — or maybe even the middle of his mind — he is going to go and join LeBron with the Lakers, or that is a serious thought in his mind,” Broussard said speaking in the latest edition of “Undisputed”, as per the Express.

“Usually if you’re asked about a player moving teams and you support him, you’re like ‘hey, he did what made him happy, I’m happy for him, he did what was best for his family…"

“To go to ‘I absolutely loved it, it’s perfect’ — twice he said that — it’s hard for me to think of situation as a player thinking about another player moving and being that excited about it,” he added. “I don’t think it makes sense for KD. I would just stay in Golden State and win four, five, who knows how many rings. Keep LeBron from winning rings."

“I will say this. He has to do it next year because if the Lakers get Kawhi or some other big time free agent, they may not have the money to get KD. As much as I think it doesn’t make sense for KD to do it, I’ve got to admit, it would be great for the NBA,” the NBA insider concluded.