A Royal Pain
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Sacramento Kings: Three Predictions for Harrison Barnes

By Leo Tochterman

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 7: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings warms up against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 7: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings warms up against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 23: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 23, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 23: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 23, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

When the Kings lose, Kings fans will blame Barnes

A wise poet once said “Mo money mo problems.” That could ring true for Barnes this season as he enters the year as the highest-paid player on the Kings’ roster. For all of Barnes’s strengths, he can be prone to dribbling the air out of the ball and occasionally being a black hole on offense.

Barnes is a shoot-first guy, which can be frustrating to fans. When Barnes gets the ball in the mid-post he rarely passes, which will have to change with the Kings having a plethora of offensive options.

As far as counting stats like points-per-game average, it is unlikely that Barnes gets close to his output in Dallas. With Barnes being third or fourth in the pecking order in Sacramento, it is easy to foresee games in which he goes 1-6 or 2-7 from the floor. And if the Kings lose those games, a lot of fingers will be pointed at Barnes.

Barnes has been scapegoated by his fanbases before. Most notably, Barnes has been given part of the blame for the Warriors collapse in the infamous 2016 NBA Finals where he clanked open threes in key situations.

I think if Kings fans can temper their expectations with Barnes and not equate his contract with his offensive output, they will see Barnes in a more positive light. Three-and-d wings are the most valuable commodity in the modern NBA, just because they are so hard to find.

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