What Stephen Curry's extension says about Kevin Durant's next move

As we sit firmly in the quietest portion of the NBA calendar - nestled between the high of the Olympic Games and with training camp still some weeks away - news of Stephen Curry's contract extension with the Golden State Warriors has understandably dominated the news cycle.

Entering the second last season of his current deal, Curry elected to put pen to paper on a one-year extension in The Bay Area, which will kick in beginning in 2026-27. It is estimated that this extra deal tacked on to his current contract is going to pay him over $62 million, great work if you can get it and richly deserved after his exploits for Team USA this summer.

This extension could also have implications for Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, and is one to keep an eye on.

Durant currently has two years left on his own current deal, paying him over $50 million annually. Now 35-years-old - and having suffered serious injury in the past - it might make sense for him to also look for the one year extension to his current deal that he is also eligible for.

The figure on that extra year would pay him just shy of $60 million at a time when he will be 38-years-old and it is assumed, winding down his own career. One very good reason Durant might decide to lock himself in for that extra season is because - as it currently stands - both he and Curry would then hit free agency together in the summer of 2027.

Obviously the duo have won championships together in the past, but you could argue it was the presence of Draymond Green that forced the pair apart. Durant hasn't found basketball nirvana like that since, and he also hasn't come close to winning a championship either.

The Suns will be hoping that will change in the next two seasons, but that is where Durant is at in his own career right now. With hindsight we may be able to say when he's retired that Durant made a massive mistake in leaving the Warriors when he did, but entering free agency when Curry does might be a chance to put that right.

Imagine if both decided to team up elsewhere, and chase a ring together before they called it a career. Rekindling again the connection we clearly saw again in Paris. Obviously less money would have to be taken - but if they're each basically getting $60 million for one season's work - to say nothing of the riches already amassed, you'd have to think that wouldn't be a major stumbling block.

Instead the prospect of where to play together would likely be it, with Curry a hero to the Warriors fandom. He couldn't leave and break their hearts, could he? Similarly it is unlikely Durant would go back. What about the Charlotte Hornets (Curry has links there) or Washington Wizards (Durant is from Maryland)? Small market teams sure, but they'd head East and hurt less feelings in the process.

Even if all of this is a pipe dream, Durant locking in that extra money and length of deal both makes him more appealing to trade for if he decides he wants out of Phoenix. From the perspective of the Suns, they'd get more back for him as well if he's under contract for one more year. Plus again, Durant gets paid. Makes a ton of sense for Durant to follow Curry's lead then.