Report: Durant opts out of Warriors deal for free agency

AFP

Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant has declined a US$31.5-million option for next season and will become an unrestricted National Basketball Association free agent, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and 2014 NBA MVP, ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the second quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals earlier this month and underwent surgery to repair the injury.

The 30-year-old forward is looking at missing the 2019-20 NBA season while rehabilitating and using the following campaign to rebuild to peak form, a prospect that could scare off some suitors who hoped for more instant returns from a big-money deal for one of the NBA's biggest talents.

Durant averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots a game for the Warriors this season and boosted his production to 32.3 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in the playoffs until suffering a right calf injury and missing nine games before his brief NBA Finals comeback.

Durant is still expected to have several offers when NBA free agency opens on Sunday. While terms of deals can be completed early, NBA rules mandate no new contracts can be signed until July 6, leaving a week of various reports of agreements to terms but nothing teams can confirm until signings are complete.

Boston's Kyrie Irving, Toronto's Kawhi Leonard and Golden State guard Klay Thompson are expected to be among the other top free agents on offer when talks begin, although Thompson suffered a torn left knee ligament in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and will also miss significant time next season.

The New York Knicks, among the leaders in money to spend under NBA salary cap rules, are expected to make a pitch for Durant, whose agent is in New York ready for offers.

Meanwhile, NBA scoring champion James Harden and playmaker Chris Paul would have Philadelphia star Jimmy Butler as a new teammate if the Houston Rockets get their way, ESPN also reported on Wednesday.

Unnamed league sources told the US-based telecaster that the Rockets want Butler to push the 76ers for a sign-and-trade deal that would let the All-Star forward move to Houston.

Salary cap room

The Rockets, who lack salary cap room for the deal, would potentially have to involve a third team in the deal and likely part with center Clint Capela, forward PJ Tucker or guard Eric Gordon to make any swap work under NBA contract rules.

The Sixers would see some compensation for Butler compared to if he departed as a free agent but they also could sign him to a long-term deal of their own.

The 76ers can offer Butler the best possible terms at US$190 million over five years when free agency opens. The Rockets could pitch US$140 million over four seasons.

Philadelphia obtained Butler last November in a trade with Minnesota and he produced 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a game for the 76ers.

The Sixers lost to eventual champion Toronto in the second round of the NBA playoffs on a seventh-game buzzer beater by Leonard that bounced off the rim four times before dropping into the hoop.

Elsewhere, Spanish center Marc Gasol has exercised his US$25.6-million one-season contract option to return to Toronto next season, the Canadian club announced on Wednesday.

The Gasol, obtained by the Raptors from Memphis at the NBA trade deadline last season, averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 blocked shots a game during Toronto's playoff run to the NBA crown, the first for any non-US franchise.

The 34-year-old won a crown in his 11th NBA campaign. The 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is a three-time NBA All-Star and has helped Spain to a Basketball World Cup title as well as two Olympic silver medals.

Gasol, who averaged 13.6 points and 7.9 rebounds combined for the Raptors and Memphis this season, had until Thursday to accept the deal or he would have become a free agent on Sunday.