Golden State Warriors: What Extension Should Harrison Barnes Get?
Ceiling vs. Fit
On the one hand, general manager Bob Myers made a valid point in an interview with Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group about Barnes’ potential.
Since he’s only 23 years old, he still has plenty of room for growth on both ends of the floor. Add that to the fact that he’s been splitting minutes with Andre Iguodala the last two seasons and the prospect of Barnes in an increased role is tantalizing.
Bob Myers to KNBR "If Harrison was shooting the ball 20 times/game I'd love to see what thatd look like. I think it could look pretty good."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) August 28, 2015
But Myers quickly acknowledged that this scenario is unlikely to unfold in the near future in Golden State. Even if Iggy’s athleticism and overall value wanes over the next few seasons, Curry and Thompson will still be taking up the majority of the team’s shots.
What the Warriors need is exactly what Barnes already provides: solid wing defense, versatility, athleticism, three-point shooting and aggression off the bounce to capitalize when defenses focus too much attention on the Splash Brothers. What kind of contract will encourage Barnes to choose that kind of role on a contender over more responsibility (and possibly more money) elsewhere?
Bob Myers to KNBR: "Unfortunately or maybe fortunately for us, that's not what we need. But for (Harrison Barnes), he's got a high ceiling."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) August 28, 2015
Next: Security vs. Restricted Free Agency