Kevin Durant Reportedly Taking Bigger Pay Cut on Warriors Contract to Help Team

Rather than use his 2017 NBA Finals MVP award to leverage a better deal with the Golden State Warriors in free agency, Kevin Durant is doing his part to ensure the team can keep its veteran core together this summer.

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. Rather than $34.65 million, Thompson suggested Durant's salary could instead be as low as $25 million when the Warriors finalize his contract. 

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and Chris Haynes first reported June 1 that Durant was willing to accept less than the max. They wrote he'd be eligible for a "supermax" contract beginning in 2019 that would be worth roughly $217 million over five years.

Golden State has agreed to deals with almost all of its top free agents, with Durant being the notable exception. ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Stephen Curry agreed to a new five-year, $201 million contract, and the Warriors agreed to a three-year, $48 million deal with Andre Iguodala, per The Vertical's Shams Charania. Haynes also reported Shaun Livingston will be back with a three-year, $24 million pact.

Some wondered whether the NBA's luxury-tax rules would be prohibitive enough to force the Warriors to part ways with some of their key role players. Thanks in part to Durant taking less than expected, it looks as though that won't be a problem for the time being.

However, Golden State could run into issues later on when Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are due new contracts in 2019 and 2020, respectively.