Warriors GM Reportedly Flying to NYC to Make His Pitch to Kevin Durant
By Brian Cass
The Kevin Durant 2019 free agency saga has been one of the NBA's top storylines all offseason. After suffering a ruptured Achilles in the Finals this past year, reports have suggested that Durant is fed up with Golden State and could leave the team once free agency starts. KD declined his $31.5 million player option with the Warriors to become an unrestricted free agent, and now the new bidding war will commence.
Durant is taking meetings in New York, and is expected to meet with the Nets, Clippers, Warriors and Knicks. Warriors GM Bob Myers will meet with Durant in the Big Apple over the weekend in hopes of convincing the superstar to stay in the Bay.
Warriors GM Bob Myers is scheduled to travel to NY this weekend hoping to visit Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania, as most NBA free agents wait on a domino effect that begins with him and Kawhi.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 29, 2019
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Despite his devastating Achilles injury that could hold him out for the entire 2019 season, KD will still be one of the most sought after free agents this summer.
Teams vying for Durant's services will need to offer him a max deal worth $38.2 in his first season, and increase 8% annually, for a total of five-years, $221 million. That's a hefty price tag for someone set to sit out the 2019-20 season, but with his résumé and talent, he could well be worth that value when he returns the following season.
It seems as if Bob Myers will be the first to meet with Durant and pitch him on staying put with the Warriors, as the Dubs hope to retain their core of star talent.
Story filed to ESPN: Golden State’s Kevin Durant is planning to engage four teams in discussions upon the opening of NBA free agency on Sunday – the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Warriors, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
Determining where KD will end up is a crab shoot at this point, as it seems his preferred destination changes almost every day. Golden State by far has the best track record of the four teams expected to be in pursuit of Durant, but none of us truly know what KD's thought process is when it comes to decisions like this.
Now that the Warriors are expected to retain free agent guard Klay Thompson by offering him a max contract, their remaining cap space will be dedicated to Durant, if he decides to come back.
All eyes will be on KD once the clock hits 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, as his decision will likely have a domino effect on the rest of the free agency pool.