This is true. Addtionally, Outlaw doesn't have the meat of Barnes, is a poor outside shooter, and can't play the 4. Barnes and Nocioni were the 2 swingmen types who also rebound well and can and do play a lot of 4 (part of a PF by committee). Nocioni, who like Outlaw and unlike Barnes was an RFA, is obviously out of the picture now barring a future trade. I'd rather pay less but I wouldn't object to a full MLE. Barnes just turned 27, he should be solid for any length contract and be peaking right with Yao-Tmac-Battier. Start with 4 year 17 mil with player option, go higher if necc, get it done!
-and a little bit Chuck Hayes in terms of effort and role. Cross these two (Battier and Hayes) and Barnes is as close as you get. Better offensively than Hayes, but a notch below (but still adequate) on the boards and strength. Not quite the shooter and individual defender of Battier (but adequate), but sturdier/stronger on post defense and a notch better on the boards. Barnes would add a lot of flexibility to the roster and I think a Hayes/Barnes/Landy/vet min-LLE bigger body (Skinner, Roberts, Mihm, Sweetney) PF committee is the best, most realistic, option.
I agree with posters claiming Barnes would help ease the sting of losing Battier for a quality PF. The reality is that Alston won't do the trick in my eyes. Other teams view him much the same as we do --> a backup. I guess the capspace contracts -Vspan, Sura would help but that's a lot of junk to trade a rare, quality big for. I think Battier is our best and more realistic trading asset to get a decent PF. I like him a lot, however, and would accept a lesser PF to keep Shane. But, if that's the course we've set, then getting Barnes would be a HUGE consolation to losing Shane.
If we can get Barnes for the MLE, WE NEED TO DO IT! Almost all championship teams always have long, versatile guys who can play multiple positions. We also need more of that Bobby Sura fire who plays with a passion and an edge.
If only Morey read this forum and cared what we thought. He would absolutely be a solid addition to this team. You can never have too many players like Barnes, Hayes and Battier. These are the kind of players we need to surround Ming and TMac with. Solid role players. Wells has proven he cant be counted on. You never know when Mike James's screw is going to come completely loose. If they both have a productive year then great but dont rely on them.
Yes to Matt Barnes!!! Sounds like we need a poll.... I'm shocked at how many people would like to add him. I figured I'd be the only one.
I"m not so sure that Matt Barnes is that gifted athletically. I think a lot of what he did last year was because of Don Nelson's system. Before Don Nelson, Barnes was an NBA Journeyman bouncing around from team to team and averaging 4.1 pts a game. I think..that you really have to look at what this guy has done in the past without Golden State and make your decision but as for me..I vote no to Matt Barnes.
There is no way we will sign him with MLE, trade for him, maybe, but not as a FA. If the number guy is going to give one player MLE, he has to be a 4/5, not a 3/4.
From Wikipedia basically outlining Matt Barnes Career. After a college career at UCLA, Barnes was a second round draft choice of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA Draft. He was then traded that summer along with Nick Anderson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Wesley Person, but was cut that October. He has since played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 4.1 points per game. He was traded by the Kings halfway through the 2004-05 season along with Chris Webber to the 76ers, in exchange for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner, though he never suited up for a game with them due to knee tendonitis. He was waived and then signed a free agent contract with the New York Knicks in the 2005 NBA offseason. He was waived by the Knicks during the 2005-06 season after playing six games. He was then claimed by the 76ers to serve a second stint in Philadelphia,[1] where he finished out the season. Barnes signed with the Golden State Warriors before their first day of training camp in October 2006[2], and has effectively raised his status in the league since joining the team. With struggling forward Mike Dunleavy, Jr. placed on the bench, Barnes was given more playing time by coach Don Nelson. On December 26, 2006, he hit 7 three-point field goals to tie a Warriors franchise record.[3] The record was broken later that season by Jason Richardson, who hit 8 three-pointers on March 29, 2007.[4] Barnes, a high-school All-American wide receiver, says that if he had not been signed by the Warriors he would have tried out for the NFL.[5] Before signing with Golden State, Barnes had only made 10 three-pointers in his career. In the 2006-07 season, he made 106. After joining Golden State, Matt's offense improved impressively, from 3 points a game in Philadelphia to 9.8, appearing in 76 games. Also added a strong 2007 post-season, with 11.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg in eleven playoff games.
Matt's Stats from last year: 9.8 ppg 4.6 rpg 2.1 apg 1 spg .5 bpg .438 FG% .366 3P% .732 FT% 14.7 PER
1. Why can't we sign him for the MLE? If the reports are right, the Warriors are stalling with making him any kind of lucrative offer. It might be hard, but it is hardly an impossibility like what you are speaking of. 2. As for using our MLE on a 4/5...which 4/5 unrestricted FA you speak of are we going to get? Right now, I rather use the MLE on a guy like Barnes or even Desmond Mason and try to trade for a power forward. If you think Mikki Moore is a better option to use with the MLE than Matt Barnes, I hope you're ready to see the post-Kidd performances he's going to put up.
And people get on me for wanting Francis back who averages 18.4ppg/6.1apg/5.6 rbg over his career. Those stats as a guard beats Matt Barnes stats hands down. Pass.. Get a real PF.
For the last time, he is NOT a PF. Whoever says he's a PF on this board only saw him during the playoffs when he HAD to play PF because of the matchups Nelly-ball called for. He's a 2/3 player. He started at the two-guard for Richardson.
People thought the same thing about Mario Elie, Raja Bell, and Bruce Bowen, just to name a few. Lots of good role players and starting caliber swingmen don't find their place until the late 20s. Further, Barnes probably has size and athleticism over all of this group. There isn't a starting quality 4/5 who can be had for an MLE. There isn't a 4/5 available for an MLE nearly as good as Matt Barnes. I'd take Barnes over the over the hill/injury prone gang of Joe Smith, PJ Brown, Chris Webber or the completely unproven guys like Johnson, Blatche, etc. This is the kind of choice we have with our MLE.
He played all his playoff minutes at the PF. He played the majority of his regular season minutes at the PF. He is a solid rebounder and goes 235, unlike Battier. There are plenty of times/opponents where Barnes can and does play the 4.
