Salary cut of more than 20 million? Salary expert: Durant s 100 million yuan stay in the Rockets for 2 years is a good compromise plan

August 19th News Recently, Spotac salary expert Keith Smith wrote an article analyzing the prospects of Durant and the Rockets (early) contract renewal. He said that the two sides reached a two-year $100 million contract, which was a compromise. The original text of

is as follows:

Durant seems unlikely to strive to sign a full maximum salary contract with the Rockets. This will have a huge impact on the Rockets, as they already have a considerable amount of money on the books in the next few seasons. Shin Kyung (signed $185 million for 5 years in 2024) and Jabbarri Smith Jr. (signed $122 million for 5 years in 5 years this year) both signed long-term contracts with the Rockets. From the 2026-27 season to the 2028-29 season, Shin Kyung and Jabbarri Smith Jr.'s total salary ranges from $59 million to $63 million.

Now, Shin Kyung and Smith's total salary is quite reasonable. Both players are great choices and are expected to deliver a great reward in their non-max deals. Since Shin Kyung and Jabbarry Smith Jr.'s contract is team-friendly, the Rockets have great flexibility in cap space. This is important because the team wants to retain Ethan (now renewal) and Amen Thompson (eligible for early renewal in the summer of 2026).

For Durant, his first priority seems to be winning the game and getting where he wants to go. (If) Durant's next contract does not pursue a maximum salary, he can increase the possibility of achieving these two things. Here is a relatively fair compromise between Durant and the Rockets on the new contract, either to renew the contract early or to sign a new contract (renewal) next summer.

2026-27 season $50 million;

2027-28 season $50 million (player option);

Total: 2 years $100 million.

This contract reduced Durant's maximum salary contract qualifying from the Rockets by about $20.5 million (up to about $120 million in two years). By keeping annual salary flat (unfortunately, season salary with player options cannot be lower than the previous year), this brings good flexibility to the Rockets in the summer of 2027 — provided Durant chooses to execute his player options.

That summer (summer 2027), the total salary on the Rockets' books was $152 million (prerequisite: Suppose Amen signed a contract with a maximum salary or close to the maximum salary). With Durant's annual salary of $50 million, the Rockets still have about $18 million in space from the first rich line. If Durant is willing to accept less salary, this will further increase the Rockets' cap space flexibility. If Durant chooses to jump out of the contract, the Rockets may become a team with cap space.

Durant does not seem to have no intention of pursuing a maximum salary in his next contract. But he can't accept a big discount on his salary. For Durant and the Rockets, a contract of about $50 million per season is a good compromise.

Durant has one year left in the current contract, and his salary in the 2025-26 season is about $54.71 million. Durant will turn 37 in September this year.

In the 2024-25 season, 36-year-old Durant played 62 regular season games for the Suns, averaging 36.5 minutes per game, able to score 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 52.7%, a three-point shooting percentage of 43.0%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 83.9%.