Durant: 'I'm thinking about the money I'm going to get' in free agency
Kevin Durant has his mind on his money and his money on his mind.
There's a long way to go before the current Golden State Warriors superstar enters unrestricted free agency once again next summer. After settling for one-year deals with pay cuts in order to help the Warriors keep its core intact, Durant is ready to cash in on a massive payday.
"I am thinking about the money I'm going to get," Durant said, according to the Athletic's Marcus Thompson. "I never got the (massive) deal. I've just seen a bunch of dudes around the league making so much money - and I'm happy for them.
"But I know I deserve that, too. That's the only thing I've probably thinking about, to be honest."
Durant's initial deal with Golden State back in 2016 was for $54.3 million over two years with a player option. He then opted out and re-upped on a two-year contract worth $53 million, leaving approximately $10 million on the table so the Warriors could keep veteran forward Andre Iguodala and backup point guard Shaun Livingston.
His latest deal is another one-plus-one worth $61.5 million, which pays him $30 million this season. That makes him the 11th highest-paid talent in the Association behind Mike Conley, Gordon Hayward, and Kyle Lowry.
Golden State will retain his full bird rights next summer and can offer Durant a super-max deal worth $221 million over five years. The organization just gave Stephen Curry a super max of his own for $201 million on July 1.
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Durant, the reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP, is currently averaging 27.4 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and a steal on 52 percent shooting from the field for the 4-1 Warriors.
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