The San Antonio Spurs’ Free Agency Options: The Unorthodox Edition
Matt Barnes, Forward
The Spurs need some crazy, and the oft-misunderstood Barnes has it in spades.
He served as the unofficial enforcer for the Los Angeles Clippers for years before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies (via the Hornets) last summer (And boy, have the Clippers missed him). His gritty style of play fit well wit the “Grit-N-Grind” Grizz, and his leadership helped steady a injury-laden shaky ship that nevertheless got swept by the Spurs in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
Barnes’s checks are well known in the NBA offices, as he is often fined for various physical infractions on the court. Off the court, his antics are no less publicized or puzzling. Or real.
Matt Barnes on October incident: "Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is. And unfortunately, it happened. I don’t regret it."
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) January 16, 2016
(Sidebar: his Instagram account is amusing.)
Despite his hot-headedness, Barnes is a lockdown defender and capable from three-point range (32 percent), and shoots 80 percent from the free-throw line — traits that are always handy in the Alamo City. He also ended the season with 57 blocks, total, for Memphis (he had 50 the season before with the Clips).
Barnes knows his role, is loyal, and helps out wherever he can–all of which are prized Spurs qualities. These, combined with Barnes’ passionate style of play, sometimes leads to bad fouls (and/or fines), but you can’t knock his hustle or his heart.
It would be interesting to see what Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich could get out of him. Granted, Barnes is 36 and the Spurs need to get younger, but he is a serviceable veteran who will give everything he can to his team. If his price is right, the Spurs could do worse.