Kevin Durant Rumors: Warriors Have Expressed Optimism Due to Supermax Contract

Kevin Durant's time with the Golden State Warriors may not be over due to how much money the team can offer him. 

Per The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Warriors are privately expressing optimism about re-signing Durant because they have the benefit of presenting the two-time NBA Finals MVP with a supermax offer of $221 million over five years. 

If Durant leaves Golden State, the most he can receive from another team is $164 million over four years. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that Durant was going to become a free agent after declining his $31.5 million player option. 

Golden State also has to worry about re-signing Klay Thompson. Amick noted Thompson will take meetings with other teams if the Warriors don't present him with a max five-year, $189.7 million offer. 

Per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, the Brooklyn Nets are a "legit" threat, and the New York Knicks "still have hope" to sign Durant, but the 10-time All-Star hasn't made any final decision about his landing spot. 

The potential offers Durant will receive would seem to indicate teams aren't concerned about his ability to return at least close to peak form after rupturing his Achilles in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. 

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr announced after the NBA Finals that Durant will miss the entire 2019-20 season. 

Assuming Durant misses all of next season, he will be 32 years old the next time he plays in a regular-season NBA game. 

Durant has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of his 12 NBA seasons. He's led the league in scoring four different times and has shot over 50 percent from the field in seven straight seasons.