warreng88
02-10-2010, 02:52 PM
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Lost in the seemingly endless discussion and speculation about the upcoming contracts of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and the rest of the 2010 free-agent class is the fact that yet another elite player has some decisions to make this summer.
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who is tied for second in the league in scoring, is eligible for a contract extension starting July 1. And while the aforementioned big three will undoubtedly secure maximum contracts with their respective suitors, Durant, in many ways, is the linchpin of the upcoming collective-bargaining battle between the league and its players.
Why? In any other season, the Thunder would simply give the blossoming superstar a maximum extension -- likely for around five years and $80 million, similar to what Denver's Carmelo Anthony signed almost four years ago -- and move on to their next order of business. But with a potential lockout looming that is bound to reconfigure the cost structure of the NBA, the Thunder have to consider that waiting to extend Durant's deal until after a new CBA is in place could potentially save the organization up to $25 million over the next five years, assuming the league's desire for some sort of hard cap is implemented.
Read the rest of the article at:
Kevin Durant's extension eligibility could be problem for Thunder - Frank Hughes - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_hughes/02/08/monday.durant/index.html)
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who is tied for second in the league in scoring, is eligible for a contract extension starting July 1. And while the aforementioned big three will undoubtedly secure maximum contracts with their respective suitors, Durant, in many ways, is the linchpin of the upcoming collective-bargaining battle between the league and its players.
Why? In any other season, the Thunder would simply give the blossoming superstar a maximum extension -- likely for around five years and $80 million, similar to what Denver's Carmelo Anthony signed almost four years ago -- and move on to their next order of business. But with a potential lockout looming that is bound to reconfigure the cost structure of the NBA, the Thunder have to consider that waiting to extend Durant's deal until after a new CBA is in place could potentially save the organization up to $25 million over the next five years, assuming the league's desire for some sort of hard cap is implemented.
Read the rest of the article at:
Kevin Durant's extension eligibility could be problem for Thunder - Frank Hughes - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_hughes/02/08/monday.durant/index.html)