Kevin Durant is willing to take less than the maximum contract he is eligible for as a 10-year veteran if it helps keep the Golden State Warriors' core in place.

Durant could sign a max contract starting at an estimated $35.4 million per season but it would force the Warriors to renounce their rights to Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston to create room under the salary cap.

The Warriors can instead pay Durant 120 percent of his 16-17 salary, which is just under $32 million and operate over the cap. Durant could sign a so-called "non-Bird" extension for up to four years, but a more likely scenario would have him sign another two-year deal in order to get back on the open market to sign a richer long-term deal.

Stephen Curry can be signed afterwards at a starting salary of $35.4 million.