Barnes sent farewell texts to Warriors after Durant joined team
Kevin Durant's decision to sign with the 73-win Golden State Warriors meant the end of Harrison Barnes' four-year tenure with the team.
Departing the only organization he had known since entering the league seventh overall in 2012, the now 24-year-old made sure to express to his teammates how important they were to him before moving on for good.
"Right after the KD decision happened, I texted everyone individually something special to them whatever it was, whatever my relationship was with them," Barnes recently told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "I didn't want to do the cliche, 'I'm out, guys.' I wanted to text each person individually and tell them that we are family and how much they meant to me."
Related: Barnes wasn't looking to leave Warriors: The decision was made for me
Barnes had actually turned down an extension of $64 million over four years last season, betting on himself to earn even more money under the NBA's rising salary cap, whether that was with the Warriors or not. That decision ultimately paid off in a big way, as he wound up earning $30 million more with the Dallas Mavericks on a four-year, $94-million contract.
He wasn't the only player to leave the franchise this offseason, as Andrew Bogut (traded to the Mavericks), Festus Ezeli (signed with the Portland Trail Blazers), Brandon Rush (signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves), Leandro Barbosa (signed with the Phoenix Suns), and Marreese Speights (signed with the Los Angeles Clippers) all found new homes.