Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant is willing to take less than the maximum contract extension this summer if it helps the team keep its core intact, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing league sources.
The move would permit the Warriors to keep their entire core together with two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry potentially signing one of the first five-year contracts created by the new collective bargaining agreement. In that light, a club can reward one designated veteran player per year with a contract starting at 35 percent of next year's projected $101 million salary cap.