Report: Golden State Warriors could have traded Harrison Barnes to Orlando Magic for Arron Afflalo
The Golden State Warriors ultimately decided to pass on dealing guard Klay Thompson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for power forward Kevin Love. As it turns out, the Warriors actually had a deal lined up to replace Thompson with a more-than-solid shooting guard had they decided to deal him.
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Rich Bucher of Bleacher Report, via a league source, reports that Warriors could have dealt forward Harrison Barnes to the Orlando Magic for guard Arron Afflalo, who would have served as a replacement for Love.
"League sources also say they could’ve dealt Harrison Barnes to Orlando for Arron Afflalo in conjunction with the Minnesota deal, which would’ve given them a reasonable substitute for Thompson."
Afflalo, of course, wound up being dealt to the Denver Nuggets for swingman Evan Fournier and a second round pick that wound up being guard Roy Devyn Marble. Afflalo averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field, 42.7% from beyond the arc and 81.5% from the free throw line. In his seven-year career, he’s gone for 11.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the floor, 42.7% from three and 81.5% from the charity stripe.
Barnes put up 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 39.9% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc and 71.8% from the free throw line last season. In his rookie season, he averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the floor, 35.9% from three and 75.8% from the charity stripe. However, in the 2013 postseason, he put up 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 44.4% from the floor, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the foul line, which was the reason for all of the optimism entering the 2013-2014 season.
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