Annual salary of 54.7 million, Durant will gradually become a new season green leaf of the Rockets! It is difficult for you to get a maximum salary of 120 million yuan.

After the Thunder won the championship last season, many teams started arms races in the offseason. The Knicks signed Clarkson and Yabussele in the East, and their lineup strength continued to improve. For the team's new coach Mike Brown, not entering the finals is a failure. The Magic also creates a four-tier configuration, including Ban Kairo + Wagner Jr. + Sargers + Bain. If they can stay healthy, they will be in the top three levels of the East in the next few years, especially next season, the Celtics will be replenished, and the Pacers will give up. The East will have three teams participating in the competition: Cavaliers + Knicks + Magic. In contrast, the western part is in dire straits, and Thunder spent 800 million to renew the contract with the Big Three Alexander + Jewway + Homgren.

The Clippers signed Lopez + Bill + Paul, and the lineup continued to be upgraded. The 11-man rotation framework ensured that Harden and Kat could transition to the playoffs healthyly, with the goal of guaranteeing the Western Conference Finals. But the Rockets had the most obvious improvement, sending away Jaylen Green + Whitmore, among the seven talented sons, renewing Jay Jordan + Adams and others, signing Finney Smith + Capela + Oakge, and the most important thing was to exchange Jaylen Green for Durant. The team's 14-man roster, eight super forwards + three inside towers, the configuration is indeed gorgeous. In the words of Rockets executives, we got Durant and the goal is not to just make the playoffs. The playoffs last season have been shown how close we are to success! So what does Durant mean to the Rockets?

starts with the Durant contract. Durant will earn $54.71 million next season, sixth in the league, but it is also at the stage where he can renew his contract in advance. As early as when Durant was still in the Sun, the Suns team reporter revealed that Durant chose the next home, he must have hoped to end his career and was willing to give Durant a multi-year contract to guarantee it. According to NBA salary regulations, Durant has been trading with the Rockets like Butler and the Warriors, who has been eligible for a maximum salary of 119 million yuan for two years, but it has been a month since the Rockets have not responded. In the words of payroll expert Hollinger, it is clear that there is a disagreement between Durant and the Rockets management. Or if Durant can get a maximum salary of 121 million yuan in two years when the contract is renewed in early January.

The salary of more than 2 million is insignificant. Is Durant worth it to give him a 2-year maximum salary! By September, Durant will be 37 years old. In the past season, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 52% + 43% in both events, and is very efficient! But looking at Durant's entire career, especially since leaving the Warriors, when he led the team as the core of the team, the ending was often bad. A typical example is the Nets after Harden left, Durant and Irving led the team to be swept 4-0 by the Celtics, including Booker + Durant being swept by the Timberwolves last summer, and could not even enter the playoffs last season! Sticking singles do prove that the star has strong personal abilities, but there is no upper limit guarantee, like a castle in the air.

And now in this Rockets, Durant is an ostensibly raising the team's upper limit. At critical moments, the Rockets need to rely on Durant's excellent finishing efficiency to solve the problem. And behind this is the Rockets management’s thinking on the future. Xiao Jia has received a five-year contract extension, Amen has been reused last season and is expected to share the ball with Van Jordan in the new season, including Shin Kyung's organizational support and Ethan's improvement on the offensive end. These all require Durant to restrain the opponent's defensive attention and promote the improvement and growth of young people. Rockets coach Uduka said that Durant is the young mentor and is eager to see Xiao Jia, Amen and others make progress. If the Rockets really soar to the sky and win the championship next season, Durant may not get the maximum salary!

depends on the growth of young people. After all, Ethan should renew his contract, Amen should renew his contract by next summer, and the young Shepard also needs an opportunity to get ahead. Durant's age does not meet the Rockets' long-term plan. According to the NBA salary experts' estimates, at this stage, Durant's market conditions are a two-year contract of about 80 million, similar to Harden and Irving, but it is much better than Westbrook, who is almost unable to find his next home. If it exceeds this price, it is difficult for a team to pay. To take a step back, if the Rockets still cannot succeed next season (the lower limit that the management can accept is the West Final), then Durant can be replaced by Antetokounmpo and Edwards. The Rockets have never lacked chips to pursue super giants!

To put it bluntly, Durant is now in the Rockets, like a tool man. The team needs you to solve problems at a specific moment, after all, you have a salary of more than 50 million yuan; but the team will never use you as the core. Young people need time, data, and growth space, and will not put the cart before the horse. The most important thing is that the Rockets are likely to wait until next summer to evaluate whether Durant should stay. After all, Durant will be 38 years old in the offseason next year and has experienced a major Achilles tendon injury. In the past two seasons, there have been injuries to varying degrees. To be honest, Durant is expected to win the championship next season, but he will say goodbye to a maximum salary of 120 million!