US News: The Rockets and KD have not reached an agreement on contract renewal, and both sides are not very interested in maximum salary

August 19th According to the latest report by well-known sports reporter Sam Amico, Kevin Durant has not signed a contract extension with the team for nearly two months after joining the Rockets, and there is no sign that the two sides are close to reaching an agreement.

At the same time, the well-known sports journalist Tim MacMahon mentioned in his report: "The Rockets may not provide Durant with a full maximum salary renewal contract, and Durant and his team do not seem to have strongly demanded a maximum salary."

Tim MacMahon also added: "Even if no agreement was reached at the beginning of the season, the Rockets are not expected to panic."

Durant, 36, will expire next summer, worth $54.7 million, when he will become a free agent.

According to regulations, Durant is eligible to sign a two-year contract renewal of $120.4 million by June 30 next year. His salary will be $57.9 million in the 2026-27 season and will rise to $62.5 million in the 2027-28 season. If the contract expires, Durant can seek a three-year, $187.6 million maximum salary contract, thus circumventing the restrictions brought by the alliance's "38-year-old rule." Another possibility is that he chose a "1+1" contract (signing for one year first and with the second year player option), which is similar to the renewal structure, maintaining flexibility while maintaining high salary levels.

sports reporter Keith Smith speculates that the more realistic result may be that the Rockets and Durant have reached a two-year compromise of $100 million, which will be worth $50 million per year, and will retain player options for it in the summer of 2027. This structure can not only ensure Durant's high salary, but also allow the team to continue to focus on championship competition.

The Rockets got Durant in a big deal this summer when they sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns.