Kevin Durant is eligible for a contract extension worth $60 million per year.
The Houston Rockets haven't offered him that, though, and it's because of Tari Eason and the second luxury tax apron.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps wrote Friday morning that the Rockets have $70 million available to extend both Durant and Eason while not going into that uber-restrictive second apron.
If KD got $60 million per year, Eason would only have $10 million left. Earlier this week, though, ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote that Eason was worth $20 million per year.
Can the Rockets keep everyone happy if Durant gets $50 million and Eason gets $20 million? That's the big question, and it's why that hovering amount of $10 million or so could mean everything to how all these negotiations eventually pan out.
"As for Durant, who himself blocked a trade to the Warriors last winter, he and business partner/agent Rich Kleiman have been optimistic there will be a deal done eventually with the Rockets," writes ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "As Tim implied, it is clear the Rockets are not offering Durant the two-year, $120 million max he is eligible for, otherwise the deal would be done. Durant has said on the record he sees himself staying in Houston. There is clearly some haggling going on beneath the max, and the number could very well be predicated on what happens with Eason as the Rockets manage the apron. There probably isn't drama here, but it is worth pointing out Durant probably doesn't fear unrestricted free agency either."
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The Rockets obviously made a big splash this offseason when they acquired Durant, one of the best scorers in the history of basketball.
Houston has a lot of talent and depth, especially on the wings and at the forward spots, so there's some maneuvering that will have to be figured out as the season goes along.
But the Rockets would certainly like to avoid contract drama. This is a team that believes it can contend for a championship, and so the more the focus can be on the court in Houston, the better.
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