Rethinking Harry Barnes

[Mavs2019]

You didn´t know that Jackson wouldn´t improve.

You had at least a bit of an idea when he got little playing time on a team where young guys were getting most all the playing time as long as they were showing they deserved to be out there. Sure, change of scenery and coaching might make a difference, who knows at that point. 

He might be a bit of something in a trade, who knows (for sure won’t be a focal point of a trade that returns more than a second rounder which is basically his best value in any other trade). That’s our hope at this point with him, cause he’s looking more like a decent injury replacement 3rd stringer which is why I said he’s just as likely to be out of the league when his contract comes up as he is to get a min contract.

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I´d have liked to extract one more young asset in the deal, of which the Kings had plenty (Labissiere, Giles, Mason III), but ultimately you can´t fault the Mavs for that deal.

I’ve been saying that from the beginning, except I’ve been saying that is the requirement for the trade to be even. You can fault the Mavs for that, in the same way that you praise them for the KP deal.

The notion that they had to make that trade or else you lose him for nothing, well...they did lose him for slightly more than nothing...maybe. If JJ finishes his contract and we don’t resign him, that is nothing. They didn’t have to make that deal, no deal has to be made. 

There is still no guarantee that HB will opt out that we know of and if he does, Sac would have had to tamper to let him know their desired deal before he makes the decision to opt out. Even then, there is a chance that once he does that, other teams possibly trump that offer (in a FA year that everyone had tons of money), so the Kings didn’t have all the leverage. That’s why waiting til the last minute is important in that negotiation, and having the ability to walk away knowing you might be able to salvage the relationship (if it was ruined) in the couple months leading up to the moment HB has to make the decision to opt in or out.

To the leverage point, can you please explain how wanting HB so bad is leverage for the Kings, as opposed to the Mavs? I can’t in any way understand that.

Cause they already know they are committed to offer Barnes 85/4. The Mavs hold the cards, if there is a big market for Barnes at 85/4, that the Kings had to fear. I don´t think there was.

There is also another layer to such a trade. The Mavs need to like the extra asset more than the pieces they have, since roster spots are limited.

Would the Kings have refused had the Mavs asked for Skal Labissiere? Probably not, but the Mavs often rather keep bench veteran #14 happy over giving that roster spot to a young "Maybe". They already had to release Mejri to make the trade work.