Kevin Durant Will Temporarily Become a Free Agent, Then Re-Sign With the Warriors Anyway

In order to help his team bring back Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant will become a free agent, then re-sign a newly structured deal with Golden State.

Kevin Durant takes the stage during the Warriors' championship celebration.
USA Today Sports

Image via USA Today Sports/Cary Edmondson

Kevin Durant takes the stage during the Warriors' championship celebration.

If you (correctly) thought that this year's NBA season and postseason was a real yawn-fest devoid of any non-manufactured drama, get ready for more of the same next year as Kevin Durant will reportedly decline his player option with the Warriors, only to re-sign with them anyway.

The move, which was first announced by ESPN's Chris Haynes, will technically make Durant an unrestricted free agent on July 1. However, that is simply a formality that will take place for the purpose of giving Golden State a better opportunity to re-sign Andre Iguodala, who is one of four current Warriors players with full Bird rights (meaning the organization's allowed to exceed the salary cap to sign him).

Haynes further states that the Finals MVP will likely sign a one-plus-one pact (that's a two-year deal, with the player having the option to return in the second year—similar to what Durant signed last summer) for $4 million less that his max. 

Sorry, fans in other markets: you may want to hold off on any plans to attend a victory parade until after the the 2018-19 season.

 

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