Kevin Durant set to make less than Paul George and Evan Mobley in contract discussions with Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant could be forced to take a pay cut with new Houston Rockets contract

2014 NBA MVP Durant joined his fifth team this summer in pursuit of his third NBA championship. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is entering his 18th season in the league, and while he remains an elite scorer, he can now expect his salary to begin to reflect his age.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN said that contract negotiations between the Rockets and Durant have now begun, but Durant should accept a salary below the maximum if he wants to remain a Rocket beyond the 2025-26 season. 

Windhorst wrote, “The Rockets and Durant have had discussions about a new contract, and there is belief they will come to terms, sources said, but they’ve yet to come to an agreement.”

He continued, “In the end, Durant might need to accept less than a maximum contract, which he has been on since 2011, if he wants to stay in Houston.”

The Rockets went back on their philosophy in order to trade for Durant. They had built a young core organically led by Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green, all of whom they had developed from early in their careers. 

Following their Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of last season’s playoffs, the Rockets abandoned their strategy. Before, they refuted the idea of trading young pieces for a superstar player. Then they traded Green to the Phoenix Suns, along with other pieces, for Durant. 

But despite their big swing, the Rockets remain wary of jeopardizing their future cap space.

Kevin Durant can expect $50 million per year with the Houston Rockets, says reporter

NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin outlined Durant’s potential salary should he opt to move forward with the Houston Rockets. 

On August 9, he wrote, “One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season.”

$50 million is a significant amount of money. But now Devin Booker is earning over $70 million per year, and Luka Doncic signed with the Lakers for $55 million per year, it’s clear Durant would be leaving money on the table. 

It would mean he’s making less than Paul George, who averaged 16 points last season, and Evan Mobley who put up 18 points a night.

Durant, reportedly, is happy to do this. There’s no real rush for the superstar who can explore his options in free agency if he can’t come to terms with Houston. He averaged 26 points per night last season and remains one of the deadliest scorers in NBA history. 

If he leads the Rockets deep into the playoffs and shows there’s plenty left in the tank, Durant could make himself some more money this season.