Kevin Durant in Houston appears like a hand-in-glove match. The Rockets needed Durant, and Houston was on his brief listing of locations he needed to be traded. When requested in regards to the group, Durant praised the Rockets. He fills the necessity for a half-court scoring menace that can open up their offense.
The one query is the cash on Durant’s contract extension.
Durant is within the closing 12 months of his present contract at $54.7 million. The Rockets can provide him a max two-year, $122.1 million extension (no workforce can provide Durant greater than two years due to the over 38 rule). There was all the time an expectation that Durant would take a little bit of a haircut off that max quantity, however that lower could also be deeper than only a haircut, in line with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Hoopshype).
MacMahon: “By all appearances and by what I’ve heard, they’re not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant. Now, doesn’t imply it gained’t occur, however there’ve been rumblings of KD not going to push for the complete max. I don’t know that the Rockets are going to place something on the desk that’s near the max.”
Windhorst: “I believe the Rockets are prefer it’s not preferrred, however I don’t assume they might panic in the event that they go into the season with Kevin Durant simply on the contract that he’s on simply on the on the expiring deal… I’ll say this, Rafael Stone, since he’s been the GM of the of the Rockets, he’s signed fairly just a few big contracts, however loads most of them have been brief.”
The contract must be brief on this case, however what’s a good quantity for the long run Corridor of Famer? One supply who spoke to NBC Sports activities throughout Summer season League recommended KD would possibly dip to in regards to the $100 million mark for 2 years, round $10 million a season under the max however nonetheless $50 million a season. Nevertheless, perhaps that quantity is simply too excessive. Perhaps Durant will take much less — he has the suitable to make no matter alternative he thinks is finest for him, his legacy and his household.
Perhaps everyone seems to be snug going into the season with out an extension and seeing how issues play out. That mentioned, we’re greater than a month out from the beginning of coaching camps, and a variety of offers get executed proper across the starting of camp. That is all simply one thing to observe.
