While the NBA's cap spike helped the Golden State Warriors sign Kevin Durant while keeping their core in place, they would have been able to sign him by trading away Andre Iguodala to create the necessary space.

Durant also could have taken less than $26.5 million for 16-17 and probably would have agreed upon that if necessary. 

Durant is expected to take less money this offseason to allow the Warriors to keep Iguodala and Shaun Livingston in free agency.

“What we never talked about in those days in the Hamptons in July was money, and how much exactly he’d get in Golden State versus anywhere else,” Durant’s agent, Rich Kleiman, told The Vertical. “And that won’t be a factor this year in our talks with them either.”

Iguodala played a key role during the Warriors' meeting with Durant as he told him to do whatever makes him happy whether that's with Golden State or somewhere else.

Durant has loved his first season with the Warriors and the lifestyle change in the Bay Area.