The Cleveland Cavaliers got really close to sneaking into the playoffs this past season. While they didn’t get in they are going to be contending more often now that they have established themselves as a rising program in the NBA. Adding rookie Evan Mobley through the draft and discovering that their guard Darius Garland could really lead this team this past season in the absence of their other highly-drafted guard Collin Sexton really helped this team and made the future seem a lot more bright.
Now the team needs to figure out some things with their rotations on offense and their bench players. They also have to decide if they are going to roll with that three 7-footer big man lineup of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Lauri Markkanen. Whether they do or don’t go with that lineup, the team still needs to find a player or two at the wing position that could come in and play and contribute right away.
The Cavs are on the cusp of becoming a consistent contender. What would a potential trade with the Kings for Harrison Barnes bring the team?
There are players out there that are available in free agency but there is also the option to try and trade for a veteran player. One of those players could be Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings. The former North Carolina Tar Heel got his start out in Golden State and was a part of the Warriors team that beat the Cavs in the Finals back in 2015, but the Cavs got their revenge in 2016.
Barnes moved over to the Dallas Mavericks after that in free agency and then got traded to the Kings in 2018 where he’s been a very reliable starter for the team. Let’s take a closer look at why Barnes would be a nice fit on a Cavs team ready to contend.
Solid and experienced veteran
Barnes was drafted by the Cavs’ rival back in the day in the Golden State Warriors. He was part of that first Warriors title squad that beat the Cavs in the 2015 NBA Finals. That changed finally in 2016 when the Cavs made an incredible comeback and won the championship. After that series, Barnes moved on to the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent when the Warriors signed Kevin Durant.
In 2018 he was traded to the Sacramento Kings and has been there since. He’s coming into his last season with the Kings as he’ll be a free agent next year. The Cavs have a very young team outside of a few veterans like Kevin Love. Acquiring a couple of more experienced players at this point would be beneficial. Barnes has been on championship clubs and is a playoff-savvy player.
Adding Barnes to an up-and-coming Cavs team would be a real boost to the team next season. We’ll discuss more next about why that is.
Consistent scorer
If you want a consistent scorer then look no further than Barnes. He has a career average of 14 points per game, and he averaged closer to 17 points last season with the Kings. He’s been a starter for them now for several seasons. He pretty much has carried his squad for years and helped make the Kings halfway respectable.
Last season he rarely scored fewer than double digits on a nightly basis. He scored in double figures in 65 games last season. He’ll get you a half dozen rebounds a night as well.
Last season Cleveland tried putting a lineup of three big men including Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen on the floor. While it might have its advantages, they weren’t getting that scoring from a player like Markkanen on regular basis like Barnes would give them.
Last season of his contract
Barnes will become a free agent after the season. He’s due over $18 million this next season and then is an unrestricted free agent. The Cavs can negotiate with Barnes all season on a new extension, or if they catch wind of a big fish with interest next summer they can let Barnes walk / execute a sign-and-trade. It gives them flexibility, which Markkanen’s remaining three years does not.
The Cavs are in need of a player like Barnes a player that could provide experience on the court and scoring which at times was really a struggle to find in stretches of games last season for the Wine and Gold. This would be the right time to make the trade for Barnes. The Cavs have plenty of players that would be appealing to other teams like the Kings. The Cavs are ready to contend and trading for Barnes just makes a lot of sense. Who Cleveland would have to part ways with would become the key question in this potential trade. Let’s take a look at these trade proposals next.
Cavs trade for Harrison Barnes trade scenarios
Scenario No. 1:
While using the No. 14 pick in the draft could be useful to the Cavs, they aren’t going to find a player like Barnes that could be inserted into the starting lineup on day one.
Caris LeVert was brought to Cleveland in a late-season trade with the Indiana Pacers. While LeVert can score his consistency to score points can wane at times and that hurt the team a few times in key moments late in the year.
While Barnes has some question marks playing defense, getting a player that can score when needed would be a big upgrade for a Cavs team ready to take that next step into the playoffs.
Scenario No. 2:
This trade offer wouldn’t have Cleveland trading their No. 14 pick but rather a second-round pick in a future year plus parting ways with Lauri Markkanen, who they just picked up in a trade a year ago.
I like this scenario better because I think Barnes would fill that three position on the court better than Markkanen can now. While Markkanen is known for his three-point accuracy and that being a big part of his game, Barnes could fill those shoes just as well plus it would seem to be a better look for the squad. The idea of starting three 7-foot players in Mobley, Allen and Markkanen just doesn’t feel like the best lineup that the Cavs can deliver.
In the end the Kings probably value Barnes enough to rebuff moderate trade offers, and the Cavs may not want to throw the farm at a player entering the last year of his contract. Yet it’s unmistakable that Barnes’ consistent scoring and veteran presence would help them immensely, and they should at least start the conversation about bringing on board this versatile forward.