Kevin Durant To Re-Sign With Warriors? Forward Reveals Main Demands

Kevin Durant has confirmed that he will opt out of his current deal with the Golden State Warriors next summer and become an unrestricted free agent. He really did not have to as it was clear that was his plan when he signed a 1+1 deal in free agency this summer.

The Warriors small forward will be able to sign with the team of his choice and he will not be short of suitors when the clock strikes 12 on July 1 – the day from when interested teams can officially begin talks to sign Durant.

The two-time NBA champion’s future has been one of the most discussed topics this season with numerous teams linked with moves for the forward. The Los Angeles Lakers are said to be big admirers and are keen to pair Durant with LeBron James.

Recent reports suggested that the New York Knicks have also made strides to acquire Durant, while the Los Angeles Clippers are also expected to make a move next summer for the most sought-after free agent on the market.

Durant, however, continues to hint that he could re-sign with the Warriors with whom he has won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Despite it being considered Stephen Curry’s team – he has played a key role in leading them and the two NBA Finals MVP awards are proof enough of his influence.

Moreover, the signs toward re-signing with his current employers get stronger after his claims that he is looking to earn a big payday in his next deal. The Warriors are the only team that can offer him a five-year max contract worth $221 million, while any other interested team can only offer him a four-year deal worth $164 million.

"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," Durant told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes. "That’s the plan. Play basketball and stack money."

Durant’s comments should give Warriors fans a bit more comfort about his future with the team – especially with the team heading away from the Oracle Arena and moving into their new home at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP also made it clear that over-the-top recruiting will not impress him during the ongoing campaign and during the offseason. He indicated his decision will be based on the work on the practice court and how much he can enjoy playing basketball.

"Arenas and doing extra s--t just for me? Like, nah. I just want to see if you're a real person if you are going to hold people accountable every day. Are we all coming to work and enjoying basketball every day?" the Warriors forward explained.