In June of 2016, Koby Altman was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a front-row seat to one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history. Down 3-1 to a Golden State Warriors team that won a record 73 games in the regular season, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led the Cavs to three straight victories to bring Cleveland its first-ever NBA Championship.
There was a myriad of factors that contributed to the victory, from Draymond Green’s suspension to Andrew Bogut’s injury to superhuman offensive performances from James and Irving. The Cavaliers’ defense also stepped up, shifting to slow down the Splash Brothers and leaving open the Warriors’ role player, including Harrison Barnes. If Barnes hit his career average on 3-pointers across that three-game comeback the Warriors win; instead, he went 1-for-11 in Games 5 and 6 combined and the Cavs came all the way back.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were spurred to a title in 2016 in part because of Harrison Barnes.
Barnes has since established himself as more than simply a fifth-starter, growing as a player and finding a home in Sacramento as a top-flight two-way wing. He’s not efficient enough to lead an offense, but he has a deep bag of offense and an improved 3-point shot, and defensively he has always been strong and versatile. He’s the kind of player any team would love to have on their roster.
As the Sacramento Kings have finally become a winning team this season, Barnes has been somewhat shifted out as a key player. Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox run one of the NBA’s best offenses, while Keegan Murray was drafted fourth overall this past summer and looks like the heir to Barnes’ spot in the lineup. The Kings can and have played them together, but it’s also possible the Kings are open to moving Barnes rather than re-sign him, moving Murray into more of a featured role.
If so, Koby Altman would be one of the first teams calling about Barnes. Let’s see what a trade could look like and if the Cavaliers have enough ammunition to get it done.
A balanced trade to land former rival on Cavaliers
If the Kings look to move Harrison Barnes for a first-round pick, the Cavs are out of luck. They’ve committed all of their tradeable picks by trading for Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell. If the Kings are instead focused on win-now players as they make their playoff push, the Cavaliers may be able to help.
The popular trade machine website Fanspo proposed this trade on Twitter, and instantly it looks like a deal the Cavaliers need to inquire about. If the Kings value LeVert as another perimeter creator to help their offense hum, this deal could work for both sides:
Harrison Barnes makes $18.3 million this season in the final year of his contract, while Caris LeVert makes #18.7 million on an expiring deal himself. That makes it easy to do a simple, 1-for-1 swap, with the Cavs tossing in this year’s second-round pick (courtesy of the Golden State Warriors) as a nod to Barnes’ positional value.
At age 30, Barnes is the oldest member of the Kings’ core and over two years older than LeVert. The Kings have loved deploying three-guard lineups this season, which often leaves Barnes moving to the bench. The player who used to be the key to small-ball lineups is now being phased out for them.
In LeVert, the Kings would get a little younger and get a ball-handler who can help fill the gaps between Fox and the rest of the backcourt. Especially if they don’t wish to re-sign Barnes this summer, moving him now for a player they like makes sense.
The Cavaliers could win a title after this trade
The player that the Cleveland Cavaliers is missing is a true 3-and-D small forward. That fact has been hammered home ad nauseam for anyone who closely follows the rumors surrounding this team, but it’s also this roster’s only real weakness. They have four All-Star level players, solid veterans off the bench, and a glaring hole at the 3 in the starting lineup.
Harrison Barnes would step in as an excellent fit, a player who is comfortable toggling between the 3 and the 4 with plenty of championship pedigree. Barnes is a career 37.8 percent 3-point shooter, a strong rebounder and a scorer who can put the ball on the floor when called upon. Defensively he is strong, likely able to switch with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen against opposing frontcourt players to form a nearly impenetrable interior defense.
Barnes’ offensive creation allows him to help the offense for the next couple of seasons as Evan Mobley grows into that part of his game, and he helps a team ready to contend now. At 30 Barnes will soon exit his prime, but that’s fine; the Cavs need someone ready now, and they aren’t sacrificing a core piece or their long-term timeline to bring him in.
Rumors about Harrison Barnes being available are nothing new, and the Kings haven’t traded him yet. If they are open to this deal, however, the Cavs should call it in. Barnes’ fluky missed shots in 2016 helped the Cavs win a title, and his 2-way play now could help them win another when he puts on the Wine & Gold.