Kevin Durant Focused On 'Money' In Free Agency, Warriors Have Advantage

Kevin Durant will enter free agency in the summer that is a certainty. But the question of whether he will stay with the Golden State Warriors or leave for pastures new is unlikely to be answered until the small forward makes a statement.

The NBA season is entering the final stretch with just around 10 regular season games to go before the playoffs get underway. And as the season progresses so will the speculation about Durant’s future.

The Warriors forward, who has won two NBA Finals MVP awards in the last two campaigns, is likely to be the most sought after player in the summer with every team that has cap space likely to be vying for his signature. The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are likely to be leading the chase.

The reigning back-to-back champions are keen to retain his services but are aware that they are powerless at the moment to influence the decision. Fellow Warrior Draymond Green admitted that the team’s focus is only on ensuring they claim their third straight title rather than worry about Durant’s long-term future.

Former Warriors forward Stephen Jackson, who is friends with Durant revealed that the forward is keeping his cards close to his chest. But he made one thing clear by admitting that “money” will be one of Durant’s main focus when he signs a new deal in free agency.

“Nobody knows. I'm friends with KD. I've talked to him a couple times and I don't know," Jackson said on Fox Sports’ “First Things First”, as quoted on Yahoo Sports. "I've asked him and I don't know. Draymond is approaching this the right way -- we're gonna win championships while you're here, and if you leave then we'll deal with it."

"The only thing that I can say that I know -- he want that bag. He deserves the bag and he want the bag and he's focused on getting that bag," Jackson added. "Right now, he's worrying about winning another championship, but he's focused on the money."

"I don't think if they win or not matters. If they win or not, he's still getting the bag (laughing). So it don't matter. I'm just being as real as possible," he said.

Durant has previously admitted that he is “thinking” about the money he can get in free agency and if he goes in this direction the Warriors are likely to benefit. Apart from allowing him to challenge for the NBA title on a regular basis, his current employers can also offer him the biggest deal in the summer.

The 30-year-old is eligible for a max contract in the summer and the Warriors can offer him a five-year deal worth $221 million, while any other interested franchise can only offer him a four-year deal worth $164 million.