Joe Lacob optimistic Warriors will re-sign Kevin Durant in free agency

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If you're looking for insight into Kevin Durant's future, Joe Lacob said he doesn't have any. 

"Really nothing more than you've heard," the Warriors owner told NBC Sports Bay Area's Greg Papa on Tuesday night's "SportsNet Central" when asked what he's heard from Durant and agent Rich Kleiman.

"He has earned the right to be a free agent each year because he's always signed one-year deals. I respect that," Lacob continued just before the Warriors opened the season against the Thunder at Oracle Arena. "He's been fantastic for us in terms of what he's achieved. And he's also ... he took less than he could have taken. So I have nothing but good things to say about him. I want him to be happy."

Durant signed his third consecutive "one-and-one" contract, or a two-year deal with a player option, with the Warriors this offseason. The 30-year-old won his second consecutive NBA title with the Warriors last season, but he has remained coy about his future beyond this season, while being strongly linked to the New York Knicks

Lacob told Papa he is confident Durant will return, and that the Warriors will pitch him on the benefits of staying in the Bay Area -- once the season is over. 

"Obviously, we want him back. We're going to try to recruit him, and I'm actually optimistic," Lacob said. "I don't know why ... I think the media loves the story, and maybe other people would like us to lose [Durant]. So maybe there's some of that, I don't know.

"I'm frankly not going to worry about it until the year's over with. I think Kevin and we should just go through the season, do our thing, and we'll all find out next year."

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After Tuesday, they'll be one game closer to doing so. 

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