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LAS VEGAS – The Nets fully expect to have the Big Three all extended before training camp starts.
With Kevin Durant already extended, Brooklyn GM Sean Marks confirmed Wednesday that long-term deals for fellow superstars James Harden and Kyrie Irving shouldn’t be far off.
“As it pertains to Ky and James, we’re having those conversations with them,” Marks said before the Nets’ Summer League game in Las Vegas. “I think there’s no immediate hurry to get any of these guys done in terms of the first day of free agency. These are opportunities for us to sit down, break bread together, meet with (Nets owner) Joe Tsai and really get on the same page.
“But I feel very confident that first day of training camp we’ll be looking at those three in particular, being signed, sealed, delivered and being a part of the Brooklyn Nets for a long time to come.”
That would require Tsai signing off on over a half-billion dollars in contracts – a half billion he’d happily spend.
Harden can sign for up to three years, $161.1 million but would have to opt in to his 2022-23 contract and extend for an additional three seasons, according to ESPN analyst and former Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks.
Irving can ink a four-year, $186.6 million deal, but he could actually make more by eschewing an extension now and becoming eligible for a five-year, $235 million max contract as a restricted free agent next summer.
Even so, Marks implied that’s not Irving’s plan, which is yet another auspicious sign for Brooklyn, as it underscores that Irving is all-in with the Nets.
If the Big Three all re-sign now, it could end up being $540 million in salary for a trio that missed 84 games last season. Durant – who is arguably the best player in the world and just led Team USA to Olympic gold – has already signed a four-year, $198 million extension to stay with the Nets through 2026.
Marks said Durant was intent on getting the process over quickly, so he could focus on recovering from Tokyo, preparing for the season and completing the unfinished business of bringing a championship to Brooklyn.
“I think that they’re all individuals in regards to what they’re looking for in the future and their timing for this,” said Marks. “We have definitely had conversations with all three of them. Kevin was honestly extremely straightforward, and very upfront about ‘I want to be here, this is it, get it done, and I want to get it done immediately.’ And I don’t blame him.
“Again, he’s coming off a gold medal and wanting to really focus on first and foremost, probably recovery and getting himself ready for the season, which will take a little bit. So I think from him from peace of mind standpoint, just putting that aside. And it was obviously very important for us. I can’t tell you how important it was, and this is franchise-changing when you can lock a person like Kevin up and he wants to commit to being here for the foreseeable future.”
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