Timberwolves: 1 trade that lands Harrison Barnes in Minnesota
The Minnesota Timberwolves should be buyers at the trade deadline, and one player they should target is Harrison Barnes.
The Timberwolves need size and lineup versatility, and Barnes brings that to the table. At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, the former No. 1 overall recruit can play the three, four, or even the five in some situations.
At 29, he offers experience and understands what it takes to win. Barnes won a ring with the Golden State Warriors and had a lot of success playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
His contract is backloaded, which makes him all the more valuable, especially for a team that’s up against the luxury tax. This season he’s making a little over $20 million, but he’ll make close to $2 million less next year. He also isn’t a free agent until 2023.
Potential trade:
Timberwolves get: Barnes
Kings get: Malik Beasley, Naz Reid, 2022 lottery-protected first-round pick
Why Minnesota says yes:
The Timberwolves would say yes to this trade because they need another reliable option on offense. Both Beasley and Reid are too inconsistent, and we’ve seen that bite the team in the ass.
Reid is on a very team-friendly deal, but it’s hard to see a long-term fit on this roster. By executing this trade, they’re creating an extra roster spot to potentially sign a center.
Barnes can play any position in the frontcourt. This season he’s averaging 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.7 steals. He’s also shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from 3.
He can also guard multiple positions because of his size. He’s not going to be deflecting many shots or poking the ball away, but he is a good on-ball defender.
Minnesota needs someone that can score the ball efficiently, play defense and come in with a winning attitude, and Barnes checks all those boxes.
Why Sacramento says yes:
Will the Sacramento Kings ever get it right?
Before the season started, I truly believed they would compete for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. I thought they had a good chance with their young core, but that hasn’t worked out, and they’ve fired Luke Walton in result of that.
It’s clear they need to continue rebuilding and finding assets. Adding Beasley might be the most questionable part of this trade, but he’s still young and would save the Kings $6 million this season.
Sacramento has a lot of guards, and adding Reid would help their depth. He’s on a very team-friendly deal and he could be a part of their long-term plans. The big thing for him is finding consistent playing time.
Minnesota has given him that in spurts, but at 22 years old, there’s still a lot of untapped potential.
Because Barnes isn’t going to be a free agent this offseason, Minnesota can afford to send out a first-round pick. Sacramento needs more talent, and they would welcome another young talented player.
Does this deal make sense? I believe it does, and Minnesota could use a forward who stretches the floor and does a lot of the right things.