Boston Celtics: Pass or pursue on these 5 NBA trade deadline rumors
Pass or pursue: Harrison Barnes, F, Sacramento Kings
Sticking with the Sacramento Kings, another forward on the team is rumored to be the apple of the Celtics’ eye: Harrison Barnes. The former champion with the Golden State Warriors is having a strong season, proving himself a capable secondary offensive player while providing excellent defense from both forward positions.
The biggest benefit to Barnes is his versatility. The Warriors used that to their advantage during their rise to dominance, deploying Barnes at the 3 to start games and the 4 in their “Death Lineup” in the postseason. Barnes is now even more developed physically, and could start for the Celtics at the 4 and potentially slide to the 5 in small-ball lineups against the right matchups.
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Barnes is shooting 39.2 percent from deep on 4.3 attempts per game, instantly erasing many of this team’s spacing issues. He can handle the ball on bench units with more dependent players around him but excels at cutting off-ball to find open space.
Salary-wise Barnes fits well under the threshold of the trade exception, making $22.2 million this season. His contract descends from there, which is very valuable on a team that will only get more expensive as Brown and Tatum continue into their lofty contracts. Barnes is owed $20.3 million next season and just $18.3 the following year.
Barnes may not want to be traded, and the Kings may not want to trade him. It’s possible they still have hope for making a playoff push, certainly made easier with the play-in game this season. Even so, they should be open to moving players at the right price. If the Celtics can send a couple of young players to the Kings that better fit their timeline, along with a pick or two, Barnes would be a ceiling-raising addition to this team’s core.
Verdict: Pursue (with a vengeance)