Durant not guilty over replacing Barnes: 'He just got paid $95M'

by
Mark D. Smith / USA TODAY Sports

When Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors this offseason, it sparked a mass exodus of players from the Bay Area to accommodate for the forward's two-year, $54.3-million pact.

One of those players is Harrison Barnes, who Durant is replacing in the starting lineup.

However, the former NBA MVP doesn't think Barnes is that salty about having to leave the only franchise he's ever known.

While visiting his old stomping grounds on Friday at the University of Texas, the former Longhorn was asked by a 10-year-old: "What do you think Harrison Barnes thinks about you taking his spot?"

"I think he just got paid $95 million," Durant replied, as quoted by Mike Finger of the Houston Chronicle.

He's only off by $600,000, but who's counting? Barnes inked a four-year, $94.4-million deal with the Dallas Mavericks the same day Durant signed with the Dubs.

Money aside, Barnes has expressed some resentment toward being replaced, having said, "I guess I died."

Related: Barnes wasn't looking to leave Warriors, says decision was made for him

Durant also said he knew he'd face "backlash" for joining the team that defeated his Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs before falling a win short of repeating as champs.

"This is something I felt I needed to do," he said.

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