The Houston Rockets made a huge splash this offseason to trade for Kevin Durant.
In acquiring one of the best scorers in NBA history, they signaled their intent to the rest of the league.
It just turns out the Rockets may not be quite as invested in Durant as everyone thought.
He’s been eligible for a two-year, $122 million max contract extension. The Rockets don’t want to give that out, though.
ESPN’s Tim McMahon shared on a podcast that a deal of that magnitude isn’t forthcoming.
“The Rockets aren’t going to go all-in — by all appearances and by what I’ve heard — they’re not going all-in on an extension for Kevin Durant,” MacMahon said. “Now, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. But there have been rumblings of, ‘Hey, KD is not going to push for the full max.’ I don’t know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that’s close to the max.”
The fact that MacMahon also said Durant doesn’t plan to push for such a deal is an encouraging sign for Houston at least.
He’s going into the final year of his contract and will be paid $54.7 million.
An NBC Sports report from Summer League indicated Durant may accept $100 million over two years on an extension.
To be fair to Houston, Durant is 36 years old and will turn 37 in September.
It’s an era where superstars play longer than ever, but the Rockets have to feel a least a little hesitant to pay a player that age too much of an over-the-top deal.
Durant is coming off a season, though, in which he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 52.7% from the floor, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the line.
KD still has all the ability in the world. It’d be tough to overpay him.
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