Kevin Durant is staying with the NBA champions.
LeBron James might be moving much closer to them.
And two other big names in free agency — Oklahoma City’s Paul George and Houston’s Chris Paul — have decided to stay put.
Durant has decided to sign a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because the deal cannot become official until the league’s offseason moratorium ends on Friday. The deal comes with a player option for 2019-20, so Durant can — and likely will — become a free agent again next summer.
It’s a win on multiple levels for the two-time defending NBA champion Warriors. Not only do they get to keep the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals MVP, but they also get some financial flexibility in the deal.
Durant will be paid about $30.5 million this coming season, about $5 million less than he could have commanded if the deal was structured differently. That savings will give Golden State options for other moves this summer, as the Warriors look to bolster their bench.
The New York Times first reported Durant’s intention.
A person familiar with George’s situation spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal’s terms have not been announced, although ESPN — which first reported the deal — said the forward agreed to a four-year, $137 million dollar contract that includes a player option in the final year.
The move, which can become official on Friday, further validates Oklahoma City’s decision to send a package — including Most Improved Player Victor Oladipo — to Indiana last year for George, who clearly enjoyed playing with Russell Westbrook with the Thunder.
Paul announced on Twitter that he has “Unfinished Business” in Houston, which took Golden State to seven games in the Western Conference finals. Paul missed the last two games of that series with an injury, and the Rockets wasted big leads in both.
He averaged 18.6 points and 7.9 assists last season with the Rockets, who went 65-17 led by Paul and newly minted NBA MVP James Harden.
ESPN reported it is a four-year deal that will be worth $160 million.
Meanwhile, James created a frenzy on Saturday without saying a word.
James spent the week vacationing in Anguilla, and hopped aboard a private Gulfstream jet in the morning to fly to the Los Angeles area. By the time he arrived around midday — after his flight plan was tracked online — reporters and at least one news helicopter were waiting for the Cleveland Cavaliers star, who decided to become an unrestricted free agent and not opt-in to a $35.6 million deal for this coming season.
The Lakers have long been mentioned as a top destination for James, and they have more salary cap space this summer than any team in the NBA. But going to L.A. on Saturday doesn’t necessarily provide any hint about his destination, since James has homes in Southern California.
But if James is going to be the next superstar to follow in the legacy that Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson built for the Lakers, it’s already fairly evident that not everyone in the NBA will be thrilled.
“The Lakers are FOREVER gonna be Kobe’s and Magic’s team. ... Process that,” Philadelphia star Joel Embiid wrote on Twitter.
More free agency
Mavericks • Two people with knowledge of the deal said Dallas and DeAndre Jordan have agreed on a one-year contract at roughly the $24.1 million the center was set to make with the Clippers.
The agreement comes three years after Jordan agreed to join Dallas as an unrestricted free agent but changed his mind before a contract could be signed and stayed in L.A.
Nuggets • Will Barton is getting a major raise from Denver. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Barton will sign a four-year deal that — if played to conclusion — would be worth more than $50 million.
Rockets • Gerald Green and his hometown Houston Rockets are staying together. The Houston native has agreed to a one-year deal at the $2.4 million minimum, a person familiar with the terms tells The Associated Press.
Spurs • Rudy Gay is returning to San Antonio. A person familiar with the terms says Gay has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal to be back in silver and black next season.
Timberwolves • Derrick Rose and Minnesota will be counting on one another next season. The 2011 NBA MVP has agreed to a one-year deal worth nearly $2.4 million to stay with Minnesota, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.
Thunder • Forward Jerami Grant has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with a player option the third year. Grant’s agent, Happy Walters, confirmed Grant’s decision in a text message to The Associated Press.
Salary cap • The NBA released the official cap and tax numbers for the coming season on Saturday night — the salary cap is $101,869,000, and the tax level is $123,733,000.
