A Royal Pain
Fansided

4 teams that could steal Harrison Barnes from the Kings

By Elaine Blum

Harrison Barnes (40), Sacramento Kings against Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Harrison Barnes (40), Sacramento Kings against Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Apr 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) react during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) react during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks traded Harrison Barnes to the Kings during the 2019 trade deadline for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph, but now they could use his skillset again. If they resign Kyrie Irving this summer, the Mavericks need a better supporting cast around their star players than they had this year. They cannot afford another underwhelming season while Luka Doncic plays at an MVP candidate level and wants to compete with the top teams in the league.

Thus, they desperately need a wing player and defender to fill the gaping hole that has haunted them since they shipped Dorian Finney-Smith to Brooklyn as a part of the Irving trade. Barnes alone will not be enough to fix the Mavericks’ defensive issues because there are so many of them, but signing him would be a good start to improve their perimeter defense.

After going all in on Irving, the Mavericks have limited assets to get reinforcements to Dallas, but they should be able to afford Barnes. In return, Barnes could give them defense, reliable scoring – his scoring average of 15 points would be fourth-best on the post-trade roster – and experience in supporting star players due to his stint with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and 2016.

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