Early Monday Morning, in the wake of a Kevin Durant’s free agency decision Dallas and Golden State came to terms on a trade. Last season, Barnes averaged 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Warriors.
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The rest of the Warriors’ roster includes 2015 first-round pick Kevon Looney and this year’s draft selections Damian Jones and Patrick McCaw, leaving the Warriors with only the $2.9 mid-level exception and minimum contracts to fill out the final five or six spots.
The people spoke to The Associated Press about the potential maximum contract on the condition of anonymity because no deals can be signed before July 7. The Warriors and Mavs have agreed to a trade that will send Bogut into Dallas’ cap space, according to league sources.
The person also said the Mavericks are set to sign restricted free agent Harrison Barnes of Golden State.
Durant spurned offers from the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Barnes would inject some toughness and defense into the Warriors’ bench as he fits the long-and-mobile mode the Warriors’ like for their defensive schemes.
Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle will be in Ames tomorrow to watch Barnes work and sign him to his new contract. The deal is nothing more than a salary cap dump for the Warriors, but would be a coup for the Mavericks as the team has been looking for a starting center since Zaza Pachulia became a free agent.
It was a moment when the Mavs could laugh – with a direct reference to last season.
The Golden State Warriors succumbed to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals this past June and a return to the championship series with Durant in tow is expected to make them the clear cut favorite in any scenario. Bogut was always going to be the expendable one with Durant coming, because of his salary, his injuries and the problems he presents to the team during the National Basketball Association playoffs, not fitting with small ball style.
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Barnes, when his game is on, can play both forward positions, and is a career 45 percent shooter and 37.6 percent shooter from three-point range. If he’s getting offers for $10 million to $15 million per year, it might be near impossible to get him to take the $5.6 million from the Warriors. However, they wouldn’t get the opportunity to grab him if they don’t offer the max deal. This year in the playoffs, his scoring dipped to 9 points a game.
