Fansided

5 free agency destinations for Harrison Barnes

By John Buhler

November 2, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) celebrates after making a basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) celebrates after making a basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24), center Al Horford (15), Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40), and center Andrew Bogut (12) fight for the rebound during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 109-105 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24), center Al Horford (15), Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40), and center Andrew Bogut (12) fight for the rebound during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 109-105 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Hawks. 3. player. 125. . East. Southeast

The Atlanta Hawks are at a crossroad as a franchise. Do they continue on with their core group of players as is, hoping to catch a few breaks and get back to the Eastern Conference Finals, or do they rebuild on the fly to be better in say three years?

Atlanta has two key starters hitting free agency this summer in center Al Horford and small forward Kent Bazemore. Horford is going to get near a maximum contract and Bazemore’s Early Bird Rights mean close to nothing for Atlanta, as he will command at least $12 million annually on the open market.

The Hawks are super sensitive about the type of basketball player they bring into the fold in head coach Mike Budenholzer’s player development program. There are maybe 30 guys that fit Budenholzer’s mold in the NBA today. One of those guys might actually be available in impending free agent Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors.

Barnes is a strong three-point shooter, plays well with others, is very team-centric, and plays a premium position of small forward. Though he’s not a spectacular defensive player, with a career 105 defensive efficiency rating, he does have a significant height advantage over Bazemore at 6’8″ and could be groomed into being a strong defensive wing with the right coaching.

Barnes will command more money than Bazemore, his former teammate in Golden State, but could help the Hawks solve their low ceiling issues out on the wing. Atlanta has been a top-five defensive team in 2015-16 and could be even better if Barnes can become a more well-rounded player if he decides to come to Atlanta as a Bazemore replacement of sorts should he skip town in free agency.

Next: 2. Los Angeles Clippers

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