Final season, the Sacramento Kings skilled an 18-game enchancment over the earlier yr and certified for the playoffs for the primary time since 2006. Whereas first yr Head Coach Mike Brown and the staff’s two finest gamers De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis deservedly obtained many of the credit score, the Kings’ supporting solid was equally essential in serving to to show the franchise round. Chief among the many function gamers who helped proper the ship was veteran swing man Harrison Barnes.
As a veteran in his eleventh season, Barnes averaged 15.0 factors and 4.5 rebounds rebounds per sport. He additionally knocked down his 3-point makes an attempt at a dependable fee of 37.4 %. Undoubtedly, having an NBA Champion whose made two journeys to the Finals within the locker room made Coach Brown’s job rather a lot simpler; if a man with Barnes’ resume might be coachable why would anybody else bulk on the staff idea?
Harrison Barnes desires to proceed to be an enormous a part of their success subsequent season.
In recognition of his contributions to final yr’s success, the group rewarded Barnes with a 3-year contract price roughly $18 million per season on the primary day of free company. Whereas making it out of the Western Convention and reaching the NBA Finals might be no simple process, the Kings can fairly anticipate to earn homecourt benefit within the first spherical of subsequent yr’s playoffs. In the event that they try this, something is feasible from there.
The staff’s two All-Stars, together with the continued emergence of Keegan Murray, would be the greatest causes they return to the postseason. Nevertheless, Barnes will proceed to play a significant function to the Kings’ success. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at why protecting him in Sacramento was the best transfer for the staff.
