http://blogs.sltrib.com/jazz/2008/02/br ... ntonio.htm
News flash: Brent Barry will re-sign with San Antonio. Gee, who saw this coming?
Barry was traded to Seattle last week, waived, and then allegedly listened to offers from San Antonio, Phoenix, Boston, Houston and Dallas before re-signing with the Spurs. Skeptics, including me, have suggested that this was the plan all along and that the public courting of Barry was just a circus act -- one the Spurs will use as a defense if the NBA starts questioning whether there was a wink-wink deal between San Antonio and Seattle in place prior to the trade. Now if the league asks, the Spurs can say, "Hey, we were lucky to get him back. He almost went to Phoenix." If the NBA questions Barry, he can say, "Boy, it sure was a difficult decision, but this is best for my family and me."
If the Sonics are questioned about their role, they can say, "Hey, we wanted to make the trade but we didn't want a 36-year-old who has been bothered by injuries this season. So we cut him. What's the big deal?" I'm not totally convinced. At the same time, an NBA executive I respect a great deal told me he wasn't sure Barry and the Spurs had worked out a pre-trade deal that guaranteed his return to San Antonio. The executive told me it was "possible" this whole deal evolved on its own merit -- without the Spurs, Sonics or Barry circumventing any league rules or behaving unethically. Still, I remain skeptical, which I'm sure certainly bothers the Spurs, Sonics and Barry.