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3 Reason why keeping Harrison Barnes was the right move for the Sacramento Kings

By Thomas J. Brown

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings looks on smiling against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 16, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings looks on smiling against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 16, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Apr 23, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (left) talks to forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Domantas Sabonis (10) during the second quarter of game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (left) talks to forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Domantas Sabonis (10) during the second quarter of game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Barnes is an important piece for the Kings’ roster continuity

Last season, the Denver Nuggets proved that keeping a solid core together over the span of a few years can pay off in a major way. Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Mike Malone have been together since 2016. It is rare in the modern NBA that two young players and a young coach get a chance to morph into two superstars and a seasoned coach but the Nuggets stayed the course and won it all.

Similarly, the Sacramento Kings have made a conscious effort to keep their core group of players together and give them time to develop. Their Head Coach, Mike Brown, was able to walk away with Coach of The Year honors in his very first year on the job. He has a voice that the guys in the locker room take seriously and the organization has decided that he will remain at the helm for years to come. While coaching stability is important, giving players time to grow individually and gel together ultimately leads to the highest levels of success.

Barnes is a High-IQ basketball player who has accepted his role on the team. He understands that he will not have plays drawn up for him on offense, but he shows up ready to contribute on a nightly basis. The primary offensive options will continue to Fox and Sabonis next season. As Murray and Davion Mitchell continue to develop, their opportunities will increase as well. However, Barnes will remain an important part of the equation in the team’s formula for success.

Next season, anything less than 50 regular season wins and a top-four seed in the Western Conference will be a disappointment in Sacramento. The team has come a long way from missing the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons. Their overall chemistry and roster continuity has a lot to do with that.