The roomful of "haters," once so crowded there was little room to breathe, but somehow enough space to shout, has over past few months dwindled to a scattered few. And now the place is about to be completely empty.
Or it most certainly should be.
Kevin Durant is prepared to remove any lingering doubt about his selflessness, about his motives for joining the Warriors, about his competitive priorities.
By taking what amounts to a double pay cut to help the franchise retain its championship core, Durant has waded into a place where everyone around him, from Warriors CEO Joe Lacob to the ball boys at Oracle Arena, might be compelled to take a bow at his feet.
Durant has agreed to sign a two-year contract worth roughly $53 million, according to league sources. This deal, first reported by ESPN, will please just about everyone other than the legal minds that work with the NBA Players Association, which tends to frown on those rare occasions when a player accepts a discounted contract.
Not that this is Durant's problem. He has reasons for his choice. This deal will shave millions off the luxury-tax payment made by Warriors ownership while also keeping the 28-year-old forward in the blissful comfort zone he discovered last season.
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Durant is expected to sign the contract, perhaps as soon as Thursday, to play for $25 million next season and $27.5 million the following season -- though he plans to exercise his player option next summer -- as he did this summer -- and re-sign for a deal that would pay him upward of $35 million per season.
Though league sources had told NBCSportsBayArea.com last week that Durant was willing to be "flexible" with his salary going into next season, this represents a stunning sacrifice insofar as Durant, who made $26.54 million last season, could have gotten as much as $34 million and no less than $31.85 mil.
He's going to take $1.54 million cut from his contract last season, and a $9 million cut from what he could earn next season.
While it helps that Durant has multiple income sources, including a 10-year deal with Nike that could hit $300 million, there was no compelling reason to deny his personal finances other than giving the Warriors their best chance at being the best team in the NBA. By opting out this summer, he already had given the team about as much latitude as possible to build a roster that looks a lot like the one on the floor last season.
Durant's largesse already had helped Andre Iguodala get the contract he wanted from the Warriors
Durant helped Shaun Livingston get a contract that left him content.
And Durant stands ready to assist the Warriors in their quest to fill the final four spots on the roster.
A year ago this week, Durant was being identified by many as being a competitive sellout, someone who'd rather join a winner than beat a winner. His departure from Oklahoma City prompted a stream of venom from the heartland, a hearty round of "shame on you" from players past and present and an unlimited supply of summer salt from talking heads on TV and radio.
Yes, Durant was vilified by most everyone outside the Warriors and their fans.
He said he made the decision that was best for him, and within weeks was convinced he made the right call. Durant is where he wants to be, in the Bay Area, with this organization.
And with these teammates, which is the predominant factor for a decision that should be roundly respected.
