The Sacramento Kings have signed small forward Matt Barnes to a two-year contract worth $12 million, as first reported by CSN Bay Area’s James Ham earlier this month, in an effort to bolster their front court depth.
This free agent signing, which was made official by the team on July 9, is a homecoming for a variety of reasons, as Barnes, 36, is a Sacramento native, who played at Del Campo High School, and also played 43 games for the Kings in the 2004-05 season.
Barnes, who has suited up for nine different teams during his 13-year NBA career, reunites with first-year Kings’ coach Dave Joerger, as the pair previously spent last season on the Memphis Grizzlies. Barnes averaged 10 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last year, and along with former veteran teammate Vince Carter, earned high praise from Joerger.
“Those guys are pros,” Joerger told reporters after being eliminated from the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs on April 24. “For what we’ve been through, I’d do anything for those guys.”
The arrival of Barnes offers Sacramento a player with familiarity in Joerger’s system, much needed toughness on both ends of the floor and a seasoned leader—well on the court that is.
Off the court, Barnes has been fined over $135,000 by the NBA over a multitude of reasons, such as cursing at James Harden’s mother, and has had numerous run-ins with law enforcement. In 2015, police arrived to his ex-wife’s home after Barnes allegedly attacked former teammate and friend Derek Fisher and he was arrested in 2012 for allegedly resisting a police officer who tried to detain him for an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license.
He was also arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in 2010, but the charges were later dropped. Incidents such as these hit home for Kings’ fans as the Sacramento community recently learned that guard Darren Collison would be charged with misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly attacking his wife on May 30.
Barnes, who is an active Twitter user, had this to say to his fans and followers during the accusations: “DON’T LET YOUR EARS WITNESS, WHAT YOUR EYES DIDN’T SEE!!!”
On the court, Barnes will be expected to mentor the plethora of young talent entering Sacramento, such as forward-center Skal Labissiere and center Georgios Papagiannis. The 6-foot-7 forward also brings a high energy and high effort attitude to a unit that sorely needs it.
Joerger seems to be all in on the recent free-agent signings of Arron Afflalo, Garrett Temple, Anthony Tolliver and especially Barnes.
“You can move [Barnes] around a lot. I’m going to play him at four as much as I can. You know with the advent of so much small ball being played. It’s hard to believe he’s 35-36 years old because he stays in amazing shape,” Joerger told reporters at Summer League practice on July 9. “He really takes great care of his body so you try not to play him against power guys, but he can stretch the floor, make some shots, he knows what we’re trying to do. He’s a guy who’s a great, great teammate … I don’t know if you haven’t played with him if you appreciate how good of a teammate he is.”
The Kings’ acquisition of Barnes, who started 45 games last season, is an interesting one that offers flexibility to the team on the court and in trade discussions. It has been long rumored that the team is willing to trade forward Rudy Gay for a capable point guard and this signing might offer the needed wiggle room to do so.
This homecoming for Barnes could be a public relations nightmare for the Kings’ organization or it could be a step in the right direction towards rebuilding the franchise and ending their 10-year playoff drought, but only time will tell.
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