NBA Free Agency: 10 players most likely to move this summer
By Tom West
3. Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes definitely isn’t the most likely player to move on this list, but someone offering him a max contract (or something very close to it) seems scarily possible this summer.
NBA teams have never valued talented wing players more than they do right now, the Warriors are interested in pursuing Kevin Durant as their new small forward, and the infusion of a ton more cap space opens up the opportunity for Barnes to cash in.
His 2015-16 season has been rather up and down, featuring a few cold spells that have prompted some to question his value. Nevertheless, as talented, explosive two-way wings are hard to come by, guys like Kent Bazemore and Barnes will be extremely valuable this offseason as teams with tons of cap space are ready to throw around all their spare cash.
Barnes fits the bill. He is 6’8″, capable of switching between both forward positions, has solid defense and a 38.3 percent three-point shot.
As Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group relayed, Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal, said earlier this month that Barnes wants a big contract:
"The Lakers will have money to spend on the free agent market, and Lakers analyst Mychal Thompson — father of Warriors guard Klay Thompson — said Monday on the ESPN LA radio show he co-hosts that Barnes “wants $20 (million per year)…Somebody might give it to him.”"
Barnes can receive approximately $23 million per year if someone offers him a max (just under $20 million more than what he’s making right now). That kind of money isn’t easy to turn down, and the rumors of the Warriors being a genuine contender to win Durant’s services if he leaves OKC does let Barnes know that he isn’t an untouchable piece of the championship puzzle in Golden State.
Of course, it’s hard to turn down the best regular season team in history who may end this season with another championship. Plus, the Warriors do need Barnes if they don’t get Durant. They won’t just let key pieces walk in free agency.
However, Barnes knows that multiple teams will be ready to offer him far more money, far more shots, and far more importance as a leading scorer. If he wants that — and it may be hard for him to turn down — he can go get it all this summer.
Next: 2. Festus Ezeli