Harrison Barnes Preseason Stats.

[Hindenburg]

Barnes might be the most overrated player in the NBA. He just isn't good and never has been. He's barely even average.

Despite lots of evidence that they shouldn't, the Warriors were going to make the big mistake of wildly overpaying him and destroying team chemistry.

So... re-signing a player who started much of the past 4 years with the Warriors would've "destroyed" team chemistry?

Please do explain.

Giving the weakest guy in the starting lineup the biggest contract on the team is what would have destroyed team chemistry. There were already talks about tensions in the locker room due to Barnes refusing Warriors offers and seeking out max money.

[Boardwalker]

The same drop off in stats would happen for Green if he was moved to another team. Barnes and Green are average players who benefited from the Warriors system + two excellent shooters at the guard positions.

[YogurtProducer]

The same drop off in stats would happen for Green if he was moved to another team. Barnes and Green are average players who benefited from the Warriors system + two excellent shooters at the guard positions.

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

[TheDeadDodo]

Most people in this thread appear to have a complete lack of perspective, when it comes to Barnes & the Mavs.

The Mavs had enough cap room to acquire TWO max players this summer. But as usual, they couldn't get anybody good to sign the dotted line. In the end they ended up blowing one of their two max slots on Dirk... using $25M of cap space to re-sign him. They didn't even have to do that. They already owned his bird exception, and could've gone over the cap to pay him. Instead, they spent actual cap space on Dirk as though he was an outside free agent. They couldn't find anybody else to spend that money on.

For those criticizing the Mavs decision to get Barnes --- I ask them: Who else could they have realistically signed? Barnes may not have been the best free agent out there. But he was the best free agent willing to come to Dallas.

The only other REALISTIC option the Mavs had was giving Chandler Parsons the max he wanted. He's more talented than Barnes... but suffers from a degenerative knee condition. Parsons ended both his seasons in Dallas on the injury list, and they've had enough of that. And so the Mavs chose Barnes over him.

Parsons and his gimpy knee got a max contract too, BTW.

So if I understand you correctly, sinking lots of money into a player who's mediocre at best (and unlike past acquisitions is unlikely to make a difference in a potential playoff run) is preferable to doing nothing? You've now got an untradeable deal on the books, and for what? I'd understand overpaying for a good but not great player, but that's not what Barnes is. You've hamstrung yourselves for the foreseeable future just because Mark needed to be seen doing something to win as Dirk's career was coming to a close.

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

This is pretty much exactly how he played at Michigan State.

[FlopShow2013]

The same drop off in stats would happen for Green if he was moved to another team. Barnes and Green are average players who benefited from the Warriors system + two excellent shooters at the guard positions.

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

Ignore such people. They are clueless. Dray is of Iggy mold. Even if he does not score, he adds value in other departments. Now he is not the option 1 on championship team but he is a cruel piece.

[sixerguy]

I'm not buying this "teams have enough cap space for 2 max players so they MUST spend it". That's what I call crappy GMing. Mavs coulda signed a Harkless-type for less and used the money for next offseason. Now they got a stiff for 5 years making the max.

[Papi_swav]

I'm just glad BK didn't panic max him out

[dc]

So... re-signing a player who started much of the past 4 years with the Warriors would've "destroyed" team chemistry?

Please do explain.

Giving the weakest guy in the starting lineup the biggest contract on the team is what would have destroyed team chemistry. There were already talks about tensions in the locker room due to Barnes refusing Warriors offers and seeking out max money.

Yep. And somebody mentioned on a Bill Simmons podcast that often times there can be dissension in the locker room due to a better player making less money than a worse player (Wall/Beal).

Now Curry is a classy guy and he's smart enough to know why he had to take a discounted deal at the time he did. However, Draymond clearly took a team friendly discounted deal. Klay essentially did a similar thing buy signing his extension before his 4th year started. Barnes turned down the same type of extension before last season started when he got offered a similar extension to Klay.

He bet on the rising cap, and it turned out to be a great bet for him. And truthfully, he would've been an idiot to take a discounted deal like Klay/Dray because he knew the team wasn't as committed to him as they were to those 2. Essentially, taking a discounted deal would've made him easier for the Warriors to trade, which he likely would've been this summer. It would've likely resulted in a double whammy situation where he took less money and wound up traded to a place he didn't like.

So yeah, if KD didn't sign, the Warriors would've had little choice but to bring the Finals LVP back as the team's highest paid player. And it probably would've have gone over well with some guys.

[Impuniti]

So... re-signing a player who started much of the past 4 years with the Warriors would've "destroyed" team chemistry?

Please do explain.

Giving the weakest guy in the starting lineup the biggest contract on the team is what would have destroyed team chemistry. There were already talks about tensions in the locker room due to Barnes refusing Warriors offers and seeking out max money.

Yep. And somebody mentioned on a Bill Simmons podcast that often times there can be dissension in the locker room due to a better player making less money than a worse player (Wall/Beal).

Now Curry is a classy guy and he's smart enough to know why he had to take a discounted deal at the time he did. However, Draymond clearly took a team friendly discounted deal. Klay essentially did a similar thing buy signing his extension before his 4th year started. Barnes turned down the same type of extension before last season started when he got offered a similar extension to Klay.

He bet on the rising cap, and it turned out to be a great bet for him. And truthfully, he would've been an idiot to take a discounted deal like Klay/Dray because he knew the team wasn't as committed to him as they were to those 2. Essentially, taking a discounted deal would've made him easier for the Warriors to trade, which he likely would've been this summer. It would've likely resulted in a double whammy situation where he took less money and wound up traded to a place he didn't like.

So yeah, if KD didn't sign, the Warriors would've had little choice but to bring the Finals LVP back as the team's highest paid player. And it probably would've have gone over well with some guys.

There's no way the Warriors would have done this, not after the finals anyways. I'm sure they would have signed someone that would have taken less to join the Warriors like Zaza did.

[PerFex]

The same drop off in stats would happen for Green if he was moved to another team. Barnes and Green are average players who benefited from the Warriors system + two excellent shooters at the guard positions.

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

He still would be great defense player, but on offensive.. Much worse.

[Boardwalker]

The same drop off in stats would happen for Green if he was moved to another team. Barnes and Green are average players who benefited from the Warriors system + two excellent shooters at the guard positions.

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

Ignore such people. They are clueless. Dray is of Iggy mold. Even if he does not score, he adds value in other departments. Now he is not the option 1 on championship team but he is a cruel piece.

Actually, I'm not clueless. I'm objective. In terms of his overall skill set, Green is an average to maybe slightly above average player. Saying otherwise is not taking his team's context into account.

[2011Champs]

Well if Barnes can average 8ppg/4reb in around 20 minutes a game without forcing his offense I will be pleased. (It's not my 96million)

[YogurtProducer]

People really believe this? You think a guy who consistently grabs triple doubles is a product of a system?

Ignore such people. They are clueless. Dray is of Iggy mold. Even if he does not score, he adds value in other departments. Now he is not the option 1 on championship team but he is a cruel piece.

Actually, I'm not clueless. I'm objective. In terms of his overall skill set, Green is an average to maybe slightly above average player. Saying otherwise is not taking his team's context into account.

you're right, you could put most average PFs on the Warriors and they to would be one of the games best defensive players and they would likely pull down Triple doubles with 38% 3 point shooting and 1.5 steals and blocks. It's all because of his teammates AM I RIGHT

[ChuckChilly]

Marvin Williams 2.0

[Heat_team02]

[Statlanta]

He might have been maxed but at his peak at least he was an All-Star on two separate teams even.

Those mid 2000s Seattle teams had the prototype to the Splash Bros.

[willywazza]

I have a feeling he might put up Trevor Ariza stats during his first season with the Rockets.

Ariza's season stats from 2009-2010 season:

14.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg in 36.5 mpg on 39% shooting overall and 33-34% from beyond the arc.

It was clear after a few weeks that Ariza just isn't the type of player that should be your first option on offense, nor did he have the ability.

Barnes really reminds me a little of Ariza in terms of context.

[Black Jack]

I have a feeling he might put up Trevor Ariza stats during his first season with the Rockets.

Ariza's season stats from 2009-2010 season:

14.9ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg in 36.5 mpg on 39% shooting overall and 33-34% from beyond the arc.

It was clear after a few weeks that Ariza just isn't the type of player that should be your first option on offense, nor did he have the ability.

Barnes really reminds me a little of Ariza in terms of context.

If Barnes could put up Ariza stats that would be absolute best case.

Not sure why GMs couldn't see how bad the guy is on the court, his deal is absurd.

Great guy though so I'm happy for him.

[MagicStarwipe]

Yeah right. The Mavericks wish.

[dc]

Yeah right. The Mavericks wish.

Cuban, Donnie Nelson and Carlisle would do cartwheels if Barnes could turn into 80% of prime Rashard Lewis.

It's pretty telling to me how the Mavs are going out of their way to temper expectations for the guy. They're constantly talking about how they want to ease him into his role, how they don't want the pressure of the contract to get to him, etc.....The guy is just mentally fragile and still needs coddling, guidance and kid gloves; even with 300+ regular season games (and playoffs) under his belt.

Guy is the most coddled, kid glove treated 5th year veteran I've ever seen. He needs to put on his big boy pants for a change and impose his will as a competitor.