NEW YORK — Kevin Durant is headed to the Brooklyn Nets, leaving the Golden State Warriors after three seasons.

His decision was announced Sunday at the start of the NBA free-agency period on the Instagram page for The Boardroom, an online series looking at sports business produced by Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman.

Free agency opened Sunday with nearly $2 billion in deals getting struck in the opening hours – and that’s even without Kyrie Irving officially joining Brooklyn, as has been expected, or any word from Kawhi Leonard about his future plans to stay with NBA champion Toronto or move elsewhere.

Damian Lillard agreed to a $196 million, four-year extension with Portland that will kick in for the 2021-22 season. Tobias Harris is staying in Philadelphia for $180 million over the next five years and Khris Middleton gave Milwaukee a bit of a discount in agreeing to a $178 million, five-year deal – $12 million shy of what he could have commanded.

All deals were confirmed to The Associated Press by people with direct knowledge of the agreements, all speaking on condition of anonymity because the NBA moratorium prevents new contracts from being signed until noon Saturday.

Kristaps Porzingis, who hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since Feb. 6, 2018 because of a knee injury, will sign a $158 million, five-year contract to stay with Dallas.

Jimmy Butler agreed to a four-year, $142 million deal that will send him to Miami. Butler — a close friend of retired Miami guard Dwyane Wade — made clear to the Heat that he wanted to be in Miami, and over the next three hours the basic framework of a trade was worked out. Miami is sending Josh Richardson to Philadelphia and was still working on a package to Dallas to make the Butler move happen. Goran Dragic was considered at one time for inclusion in that trade, though by night’s end he was still with Miami and the Mavs and Heat were still working through options.

Irving and Leonard remained on the market, at least technically in Irving’s case, after the initial flurry of free agency – and even with their deals still not closed, nine players agreed to contracts that will be worth $100 million or more. Lillard, Harris, Middleton, Durant, Porzingis, Butler, Kemba Walker ($141 million, four-year deal with Boston), Al Horford ($109 million, including possible bonuses, four years from Philadelphia) and Nikola Vucevic ($100 million, four years with Orlando) were the big early winners, with more likely to come.

Durant won titles with Golden State in 2017 and ’18, then was hurt for much of the postseason this year as the team lost the NBA finals in six games.

A ruptured right Achilles tendon could keep him out the entire next season, and whenever he returns it will be in the Brooklyn black.

ESPN first reported Durant’s decision, saying he agreed to a four-year deal worth $164 million. Durant could have gotten five years and about $221 million to remain with the Warriors.

In other key deals Sunday:

• Indiana is set to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from Milwaukee and sign the shooting guard to a four-year, $85 million deal.

• Harrison Barnes is remaining in Sacramento on what will be a four-year, $85 million contract.

• The Pacers lost forward Bojan Bogdanovic to the Utah Jazz, who agreed to pay the forward $73.1 million over the next four years.

• Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose will sign a two-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Pistons.

• San Antonio kept Rudy Gay on a two-year, $32 million deal, and added veteran forward DeMarre Carroll on a two-year, $12 million deal.

• The Brooklyn Nets agreed to a deal with center DeAndre Jordan. Agent Jeff Schwartz confirmed that Jordan was changing New York teams after ESPN reported he would get a $40 million, four-year deal. Jordan began last season in Dallas but was sent to the Knicks in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis. He averaged 11 points and 13.1 rebounds for the season, exceeding his career averages in both categories.

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