Warriors Rumors: Players Feel Kevin Durant 'As Happy' as They've Ever Seen Him

Kevin Durant could leave the Golden State Warriors next summer. For now, though, the team remains confident he's sticking around.

Frank Isola of The Athletic reported the feeling within the organization is that Durant is "as happy as I've ever seen him."

Durant signed a one-year contract with Golden State this summer, which gives him a player option for the 2019-20 season. He's widely expected to decline that option and become an unrestricted free agent.

"Just be honest," Durant told ESPN's Nick Friedell of his upcoming free-agency plans. "I was honest with my decision, but just like outwardly if people ask me about it, don't be ashamed to talk about why I decided to move teams and switch teams because it's not the end of the world. I didn't do anything against the law, you know what I'm saying? That's what I thought happened the first time."

Durant, 30, joined the already stacked Warriors in 2016 in one of the most controversial decisions in recent NBA history. The Warriors have since won two consecutive championships, and Durant has been named Finals MVP in both seasons.

While it's impossible to argue with the on-court success, Durant has been plagued by constant criticism regarding his move. He's even gone to social media on multiple occasions to defend himself, including a now-infamous incident where he used a burner Twitter account.

The 2019 offseason is seen as a potential exit point for Durant because a vast majority of the league will have cap space. Teams like the New York Knicks have long been thought to have Durant on their radar, pitching him on building his own team in a major market.

Durant, for his part, seems happy in Golden State. He's become engrossed in the tech community in Silicon Valley, working to build his financial portfolio since his arrival with the team. He also seems to have a friendly relationship with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Thompson is also a free agent next summer. The prohibitive cost of bringing Durant and Thompson back could be a factor in the Warriors' decision-making, though they are opening a new arena next season.