Stephen Curry is in his final year of a veritable bargain contract at $12.1-million this season, and is expected to sign the biggest contract in NBA history from the new NBA collective bargaining agreement and its reported caveat that rewards veteran players.
Under the new terms, the Golden State Warriors could sign Curry to a five-year max contract worth an NBA-record $207 million, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein.
The designated veteran player provision would reportedly enable an elite group of stars to receive up to 35 percent of their team’s salary cap. Should Curry opt to stay with the Warriors – viewed as highly likely – he would qualify, given his years of service and two MVP awards.
The new salary cap environment may not be all in favor of the Warriors, however. Kevin Durant is expected to opt out of his 1-and-1 contract after the season, and, because he only has one season of service the Warriors, he would not own his Bird Rights and any new contract Golden State signed him to would count against the cap.
As a result, Durant wouldn’t qualify for a second veteran player provision either, and the Warriors’ other stars – Draymond Green and Klay Thompson – are locked up on contracts through at least 2019.
While both Curry and Durant are expected by most observers to stay with the Warriors, the situation could make it tougher for the team to retain other free agents like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.
Curry signed his existing four-year, $44-million contract extension in the summer of 2013, before the Warriors became a true title contender and there were legitimate questions about his long-term durability.
