The pros and cons of trading Harrison Barnes: Here’s why the Kings should hold out

With the March 25 NBA trade deadline looming, Sacramento Kings General Manager Monte McNair has a number of difficult roster decisions ahead of him. No question is as challenging as what to do with Harrison Barnes.

Barnes has been the subject of trade rumors for the past month, with the Boston Celtics reportedly chasing hard after Barnes. Boston has a traded player exception from its sign-and-trade of Gordon Hayward this summer, which would allow the Celtics to absorb a large salary like Barnes’ without matching contracts. That would allow the Kings to trade Barnes without taking back a bad contract in return. The Kings could receive young players and/or draft picks. Barnes would also be a perfect addition for the Celtics (or for any playoff team, for that matter), so it’s easy to understand the appeal for other teams.

But if Barnes is a perfect addition to a playoff roster, why would the Kings be interested in trading him?

The Kings are obviously in the bottom tier of the Western Conference this season. At 15-23 entering Monday night’s game with Charlotte, the Kings are far removed from the glimmer of hope when they won seven of eight games earlier this season. The Kings lack the depth necessary to withstand any of their core players missing games with injuries of COVID-19 protocols. That stark reality, combined with a highly touted incoming draft class, is a perfect reason to explore trading veteran players on big contracts. Trading Barnes would likely ensure the Kings finish with excellent lottery odds, and could create cap flexibility to pursue other players via trade or free agency. McNair has talked about valuing cap flexibility, and swapping Barnes for young, cost-controlled players or draft picks would fit that stated goal.

Despite the flexibility trading Barnes might create, McNair will also need to consider the cost.

Barnes is a huge part of what little success this team has experienced this season. Barnes is having a career year in many ways. He’s an efficient scorer who doesn’t need to be the primary focus on offense. He can create off the dribble, take a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer, make a perfect pass, or do pretty much anything else you need him to do in any given moment. He’s not a lockdown defender, but he also isn’t a defensive liability.

The only knock against Barnes throughout his career is that he wasn’t capable of being the No. 1 option for the Dallas Mavericks, but that’s not what the Kings want or need him to be. Barnes does everything well, and is a great veteran presence in the locker room. Barnes also has a tremendous impact with his work in the community.

Sure, trading Barnes could create cap space, but would the Kings be able to use that cap space to find a player who does what Barnes does? There’s a reason other teams want Barnes, and that’s because it’s hard to find such a well-rounded player.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trading Barnes, but the Kings can operate from a position of strength knowing that there’s no urgency to trade Barnes. Naturally the Kings will consider trading Barnes if the right offer is made, but McNair doesn’t need to settle for anything less than a great return.

Greg Wissinger is the managing editor of KingsHerald.com and has covered the Kings since 2009.

This story was originally published March 15, 2021 at 10:36 AM.