Kevin Durant agrees to a two year, $53 million deal

That’s quite a pay cut.

It is no coincidence either that the difference between the amount Durant could have signed for this year and what he made a decision to take was just larger than the $5.1 million mid-level exception. That is how much Durant appreciates what he has in Golden State.

Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors for around $53 million, reports ESPN. The deal with Golden State contains a player option for the second year, meaning Durant could opt again next summer.

The 2017 NBA Finals MVP would be taking a pay cut of approximately $9 million had he elected to secure a max deal of $34 million.

The 28-year-old will lose in the region of $9million (£7m) over the course of his new two-year deal due to his sacrifice.

However, there is a secondary effect the move Durant made will have.

The San Jose Mercury News’ Marcus Thompson II reported Monday that Durant is willing to take less than the maximum salary to which he’s entitled.

Durant averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game last season while posting a 17.6 nERD rating, the fourth highest of all 486 National Basketball Association players. Given the Warriors’ history of hitting on players in the second round with Green and, more recently, Patrick McCaw, it’s hard to bet against him. In other words, Young’s presence should help the Warriors be even better, which is a sentence I can’t believe I just typed.

Only thing is, the shot didn’t go in. How long would it take for chemistry to develop?

Forcing general managers’ hands has been nearly a pastime for the Oakland crew as they’ve watched teams sell out to assemble formidable crews only for Golden State to run through them. Traditionally, teams retool and reload every summer with hopes of competing next season, but times are definitely different.

Known for intense defensive play, Tucker averaged 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 81 games for the Suns and Raptors last season. Gibson was traded to Oklahoma City by the Bulls last season.