The impending restricted free agency of Golden State Warriors small forward Harrison Barnes was a hot topic throughout the 2015-16 season. Now that the time is here, and the Warriors failed to capture a second consecutive championship, Barnes may finally be leaving the Bay.

According to Marc Stein, multiple ESPN sources expect the Dallas Mavericks to sign Barnes to a four-year max offer sheet. The Mavs are unable to do this until July 7, when the free-agent moratorium ends. Once it happens, the Warriors have the ability to match the offer.

If Kevin Durant decides to leave Oklahoma City to join the Warriors, then Barnes is as good as gone and on his way to Texas. However, if Durant does not go to the Warriors, Barnes will most likely stay with Golden State. This is a risk that Dallas is reportedly aware of and willing to take.

It's an even bigger risk considering what happened last summer. As the Mavs waited for the free-agent morarotarium to end, they held off on spending big money because they had a verbal commitment from DeAndre Jordan. When that fell through, it was too late for Dallas to make any major moves. The same situation applies this time around with Barnes, as they are holding onto money for his max contract until July 7.

Barnes is just the type of player the Mavs need after losing Chandler Parsons to a max deal with the Grizzlies, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban and company won't know in they'll actually have Barnes until Durant makes his decision.

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