With only a maximum of four games left in the NBA playoffs, Kevin Durant's free-agency decision quickly is approaching.
For months, rumors of Durant's expected departure from the Warriors have flown around, with many pointing to the New York Knicks as the likely landing spot for the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Durant has yet to give any indication of what he plans to do this summer, but the strained calf he suffered during Game 5 just might affect whatever plans he had in mind.
With the Warriors facing a two-games-to-one deficit against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith dropped a bomb on Friday's edition of "First Take," noting he's hearing that Durant's free-agency decision is directly linked to the outcome of the Warriors' duel with the Raptors.
"Kevin, I was told, if the Warriors win, KD leaves. If they lose, he stays," Smith said.
Durant choosing to stay in the Bay Area would set off a chain reaction that would affect the entire free-agent market. It would send the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers running in different directions trying to figure out their backup plan.
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Of course, even if Smith is accurate on this one, the Warriors would still have to lose the title in order to ensure KD returns, which seems unlikely despite their current deficit.
It all seems a bit far-fetched to be believable. But with KD, anything is possible.
