Windhorst: Barnes leaning towards playing with a contender
Matt Barnes must feel like a superstar.
And the constant Matt Barnes watch continues. Barnes has probably gotten more media coverage this week than he has his entire career. (Brian Windhorst Twitter)
Matt Barnes has tough choice. Come to CLE for a little more $ or play with contender. Right now, sources say, he’s leaning toward contender.
Cavs can offer more $ than Heat, Magic, Celtics & Lakers. But doesn’t sound like Cavs want to make quite same offer as TOR (2yrs/$9 mill).
Barnes has made “just” $7.5 mill in career so difference of $2-4 mill in a contract very significant to him. Still, he’s a role player.
If he’s leaning towards a contender, that means the Heat, Lakers or Celtics. I’d probably cross the Heat off first because it’d be tough for Barnes to see the court behind Wade, Lebron and Mike Miller. So that leaves the Celtics and the Lakers. The Lakers can offer a little more money (they still have a piece of the mid-level left), but the Celtics can probably offer more playing time.
If I had to put my life on it, I’d bet he goes to the Lakers. Damn them.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | July 21, 2010
Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Matt Barnes, Miami Heat
Just noticed the Laker’s gear ad above this story. Can’t you do something about that? I’ve got enough pain this summer and don’t need Laker ads on my Celtic blogs. If Barnes wants minutes he can sign with the Cs and get his money next year and the year after. Maybe even a ring.
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That’s disgusting. I apologize for that.
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He and Kobe haven’t exactly been best of friends. Then again, neither were Artest and Kobe either, so who knows.
LA can offer slightly more, with a piece of the MLE, but we’re talking the difference between what, 1.6mil (Vet min) or 2.something mil (they spent 4 on Steve Blake.) I’m not sure a 500k difference would be much of a tie breaker.
Boston seems to make the most sense for him as far as playing/role goes. He fits in with the defense first mentality, gives them a decent shooter they desperately need, and will most likely see more court time than in any other place listed.
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One thing about Kobe: He LOVES players who fight back at him. He enjoys the competition and wants guys on his team who are willing to go to war. That’s why he wanted Artest, Raja Bell and maybe Matt Barnes.
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Yes but in Boston, he’d instantly be the primary backup behind Paul and Ray. LA has Artest, Walton, Brown (maybe?), and Vujacic. Not to mention Odom able to play 3 if they go big.
Who’s the clear back-up between Barnes, Walton, and Vujacic?
Oh and don’t forget Derrick Caracter, who absolutely killed Summer league, and LA is most likely looking to get some time for to help him develop.
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I agree. But he’d find playing time in LA. He’s better than Walton and Vujacic, at least.
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Matt Barnes would be great for this team. He’s a much better choice than Fernandez. Fernandez is a head case who can’t guard his own shadow. Give me Barnes. He’s a gamer, and he can D up the best players in the NBA. I’ll take a guy that shows up everynight and does the little things over a whiney offensivly talented brat. Obviously Shane would be even better. Hopefully Ainge can make that happen
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I’m with you. Barnes is a far better defender than Rudy. But Shane is a perfect fit and a pure winner.
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Wait…I thought the MLE was somewhere around $5.8 mil this year?
Because if it is then LA can only offer $200,000 more than the C’s and significantly less playing time.
If the MLE is closer to the $6.3 mil mark then I think he goes to LA but if it is what I think then why go to LA? He wouldn’t play that much. 10-12 mins a game probably.
C’s could offer him more like 20-25 mins per game.
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Checked it, MLE is $5.9 mil so LA only has $1.9 to offer, C’s can offer $1.6 with double the playing time.
It is looking better for Barnes to come.
Maybe Danny’s waiting will pay off…
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C’s can only offer $1.146 million, if I’m not mistaken. I think that’s the vet’s minimum.
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Ya, should have checked on that earlier, not sure where I got the 1.6 number from:
http://www.insidehoops.com/minimum-nba-salary.shtml
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So that’s actually a pretty big difference. Don’t know if it’s enough to swing Barnes LA’s way.
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You’re right Jay.
Never mind…guess I have to stomach another guy being in that disgusting, vomit colored uniform LA wears.
Matt, you can go anywhere other than LA. But if you go to LA I will curse your name until the day I die because no matter what, if you willingly go to that Devil Spawned, lieing, cheating, pantywaste, excuse for a franchise you will forever be hated by all Celtic’s fans.
Of course if you have any real hatred for Kobe, you wouldn’t dream of joining his pathetic team only to have to deal with his massive, egotistical head thinking he’s so amazing all the time.
But of course if you want money then why not just go to CLE? I’d offer you $3 mil if the C’s had it, but they don’t.
Sorry man, just don’t go to LA. I’d have to hate you! And I don’t want to do that.
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Well said sir. Well said.
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Jay, any chance we can send a letter to Matt emphasizing that we feel for him about not being appreciated for his talent throughout the years, but that if he comes to BOS, the fans will love him and he will be a part of history?
He will forever be remembered as a part of Celtic’s legacy for his help in SMASHING THE HELL OUT OF THE LAKER’S FOR THEIR ATROCIOUS RIP OFF OF OUR BANNER! And then reminding them very FORCEFULLY of who the real champs were last year and in 2010-11!
I think you should write it.
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I might have to do it. We could use Barnes. Although I think I’d rather write a letter to the Houston Rockets begging for Shane Battier.
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Ok that’s not a bad idea either…
Maybe if you write both then we could score on one!
Do you think Barnes would be the sentimental type to account for that factor?
Also! I want to know what the heck Ray, PP, adn KG aren’t doing blowing up the phones of these guys?!
Paul quit complaining and get to it!!!
Go do some recruiting already!!!
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Maybe they are. Unless you’ve got their phone records that prove they aren’t or something.
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Point taken, but if they are then why don’t we hear about it?
Anytime Kobe or Lebron schedule to “talk” to someone or have an hour long special on what Toilet paper they use to wipe their rears, the media is on it so why wouldn’t they report it?
Unless no one hears about it. But during this part of the NBA offseason, people know anything even remote that goes on usually.
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That’s true, but I feel like players calling other players happens a lot. Ray has said a couple times this offseason that he’s been calling free agents to recruit.
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i finally understand the problem with the sign and trade—
we couldnt trade rasheed to orlando for barnes even if we wanted to b/c orlando can only sign him to a 1.9 million deal in a sign and trade—-so it had nothing to do with raptors cap space—its thats with all these wierd non-bird rights—orlando cant sign him to a 5 million deal and then trade him for equal salary—-
So we have to wait and see if he takes a pay cut—
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Correct. It’s Orlando that can’t afford the $4 or $5 mil Toronto wanted to offer Barnes.
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Was Barnes a Bi-Annual? Had to be I guess, only way they don’t have his bird rights.
Similar to us and Marquis.
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I think he was a vets min guy, actually. Not positive at all.
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If he played a full year then, they should have his birds rights, if I’m not mistaken.
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They definitely don’t have Bird rights on him. I’m not sure exactly how it works out, but they can offer him $1.9 million per year. Maybe he was the bi-annual exception, I’m not exactly sure.
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