Warriors Rumors: Kevin Durant should not sign again, regardless of playoff result | Bleacher's report

Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Regardless of how the Golden State Warriors manage in the playoffs in 2019, it would have no impact on Kevin Durant's decision as a free agent.

According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, "Most people in the NBA do not expect Durant to sign up again with the Warriors, no matter what happens during the playoffs. "

During the 2019-2020 season, Durant is generally expected to be denied his contract option, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. Before that happens, KD is trying to lead the Warriors to a third consecutive NBA title.

Kawakami added that the Warriors had approached this playoff series with the idea that there would be no resentment if KD decided to leave during the off season, although it was not as sure as the team really feels like this: "It's the unspoken market I think the Warriors' poster heads have all been brought together. Stay together to try their luck for a round of three turns, then if Durant goes away, he leaves without excuses, but there is a tension inherent in that too, of course. "

Throughout the 2018-2019 season, Durant did not make any promises or commitments, which naturally led to the thought that he might be about to leave.

Of all the possible destinations for Durant, the New York Knicks are the most frequently mentioned team. Rumors continue to circulate that Durant would go to the Big Apple, and among the most recent developments, said Max Kellerman last week on ESPN First take he "hears more and more" that Durant and Kyrie Irving joining forces with the Knicks are a "real thing".

Durant, 30, is in his third season with the Warriors. His decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for Golden State has paid off so far.

Durant has been three times All-Star as a member of the Warriors and has been named the NBA Finals' most valuable player in the last two seasons. He will try to make three in a row in these playoffs.

While Golden State is the No. 1 seed of the Western Conference, it is tied 1-1 in the first-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Clippers, eighth seeded, after taking a 31-lead lead. points in the match 2. The Warriors also lost center DeMarcus Cousins ​​to a ripped quad.

The Houston Rockets are another potential hurdle between the Warriors and the NBA finals after being pushed to seven games in the Western Conference finals last season, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors had a better record of the regular season as the Eastern Warriors. .

The three rounds are far from guaranteed for Golden State, and with Durant and Klay Thompson having the option of free placement during the off season, this could be the Warriors' last chance to qualify for the championship.