When Kevin Durant is Eligible to Sign $122M Contract After Potential Trade amid Rumors

Any suitor for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant will have to wait until July 6 before he can officially sign on the dotted line for a contract extension.

That's the date the NBA's new league year officially begins and it's the same day free agents are permitted to formalize their contract agreements.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Saturday the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are believed to be teams where Durant "would commit to with a long-term extension." This summer, he can get as much as $122 million over two years. Charania also noted that if Durant "were to wait six months after the trade, he could sign a two-year extension worth up to $124 million."

While KD doesn't have a no-trade clause, his expiring contract gives him some leverage.

A franchise may be dissuaded from executing a move for the 36-year-old if he makes it abundantly clear he'll play out his deal and become a free agent in 2026.

Some general managers might also scoff at the idea of paying Durant $60 million a season. While small, the signs of decline in his game are evident, and he has logged 70-plus appearances just once since tearing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Durant averaged 26.6 points on 52.7 percent shooting, while his 43 percent clip on three-pointers was the second-best of his career. However, his time with the Suns and Brooklyn Nets are evidence of how his presence guarantees little in terms of playoff success.

The excitement surrounding the 15-time All-Star's next step isn't quite the same now as it was when he signed with the Nets or got his desired trade to Phoenix.

Still, Charania reported that between six and eight teams are "seriously interested" in Durant. A handful of contenders still consider him to be the final piece of a championship-winning puzzle.