5. Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors
There’s a reason Durant is first on this list — the chances aren’t high he ditches the Warriors after only one season. However, as we saw last offseason, it’s not out of the question for him to stick it to the status quo and sign somewhere unexpected.
Let’s play the what-if game and say the Warriors win it all this season. That gives Durant the ring he had his sights set on when he signed with Golden State in the first place. Could this become a LeBron James situation where he leaves his original team in pursuit of a ring, then returns home once the hardware is his?
It’s unlikely, but not out of the question. Durant showed the ability to spurn public expectation last year, and may choose to do so again. Sure, he’s said up to this point that he doesn’t “plan on going anywhere else” (via the Warriors Plus Minus Podcast). As we all know, a lot can change in a very short amount of time, especially in the sports world.
So yes, as crazy as it may seem, there’s a small chance Durant ends his stay in the Bay Area after only one year. Especially with Durant, Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston all slated to be free agents, there’s a slim chance Durant opts to make himself available if others jump ship. I wouldn’t place any large wagers on it if I were you, though.