OFFICIAL: San Antonio Spurs Have Officially Acquire NBA Most Prolific and Experienced Star As part of a Three Team Trade

Harrison Barnes, a former UNC star, is headed to San Antonio.

The 13-year NBA veteran, who is currently in the latter stages of his career, transfers to accommodate former Spur DeMar DeRozan. Chris Duarte and considerations travel to Chicago to consummate the purchase. Barnes has started every game in Sacramento for the previous six seasons, but his minutes, points, rebounds, and assists per game have all decreased during the last three years.

Why make the move? San Antonio fared 22-60 last season, but they certainly have a unicorn in Victor Wembanyama, who has the potential to demolish the NBA one day. Along with the freak 7’4″ ball-handling, three-point shooting centre, San Antonio has a rising young star at shooting guard (Devin Vassell), a Dennis Rodman wannabe at power forward (Jeremy Sochan), and a veteran point guard desperate for a championship but never short on home and auto insurance (Chris Paul). The next phase in San Antonio’s progression is to get Harrison Barnes, a solid and heady small forward who will not disrupt the team’s balance as it moves from DeRozan to Wemby.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich previously worked with Harrison Barnes during the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Barnes was the sole gold medallist from the 2016 Olympics who represented Team USA in the competition. The Americans ended seventh in the World Cup, but Barnes showed to be a guy Popovich could trust and rely on. Expect this to continue in San Antonio.

Barnes established a niche in Sacramento, particularly as a three-point shooter, averaging 38.9% from downtown during six seasons with the Kings. He’ll use that stroke and his height to open up space for Wembanyama and Chris Paul to pick-and-roll teams, with fellow sharpshooter Devin Vassell bombing away from long range and Sochan grabbing whatever rebound scraps Wembanyama leaves behind.

Looking to the future, new Spur Harrison Ingram can look to his fellow alum Harrison Barnes for guidance on how to stay in the league for numerous contracts. Ingram lacks height but has a stronger physique than Barnes. He can also handle the open court, shoot open jumpers (with a somewhat slower release), and rebound against larger opponents.

Good luck to the Black Falcon on his next stop in the Alamo City!

And, for old times sake, here’s Barnes dunking all over Duke in 2011.