Free Agent: Matt Barnes

[Darkwaters]

Matt Barnes is the perfect type of player for our system. Hes our long 3 smallball 4. If we bring him in to a 3 year deal then we can stash Sanikidze over in Europe a while longer. Then when Barnes is up for extension we can decide if hes worth keeping or simply opt for the cheaper version (Sanikidze) if Barnes was underwhelming in his time with the Spurs.

[Kori Ellis]

The Spurs have wanted Barnes several times, but he doesn't want to leave NorCal. Last time he played outside King/Warriors, he had such a bad experience that he almost quit the NBA and went to play in the NFL.

It will be interesting to see what happens to him.

[Marcus Bryant]

Azubuike signed a two-year deal for the veteran minimum. Frankly, I’m stunned. The deal, because it’s for the minimum, doesn’t count against either our mid-level or bi-annual exception. Given his summer league play, it should also place Matt Barnes on notice as to his potential going rate – as noted by many readers in prior comments. The deal is a steal however you cut it, but here’s what I expect the reasoning was from Azubuike’s side: (1) He likes the Warriors and Nelson will play him in a way that drives up his value around the league. The deal has a player option on the second year, so he can bail next year for a richer package; (2) He sees the writing on the wall as to small forward deals this off-season. With Desmond Mason, Barnes, Pietrus and other small forwards without deals, there’s unlikely to be much money left over for less-established players (even though Azubuike’s upside may be higher); (3) Warriors’ brass may have tipped their cards to him regarding their other free agent plans. Kelenna may have signed the deal with assurances that only one – if either – of the Barnes / Pietrus combo is in the Warriors’ future. Given Nellie’s love of versatile swingmen, Mullin and Co. were likely able to promise significant minutes for the young scorer.

Mid-level exceptions keep disappearing. Almost every free agent signed in the last few days was done under the mid-level exception. For Barnes and Pietrus, each day that passes without a deal probably costs them tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. As I wrote in the last post, Mullin’s newfound patience – regardless of who you attribute it to – is paying off (literally, for Cohan’s wallet). I’ll repeat it again, however: anything gained by this strategy goes out the window if we give Davis an extension this summer.

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[Marcus Bryant]

For Warriors' free agents Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus, it's the likely ceiling with almost every team over the cap, but getting close to that salary is going to be a tough sell this summer.

League sources said Toronto, Dallas and Miami were among those interested in Pietrus, but the Raptors committed their midlevel exception to sharpshooter Jason Kapono, and the Heat are still hoping to lure point guard Mo Williams away from Milwaukee.

Talks with Golden State have been slow-moving and interest in a multi-year deal might be lukewarm on both ends. Happy Walters, Pietrus' agent, said the Warriors "have not been very responsive" since tendering a one-year offer of about $3.5 million last month.

"If they have an interest in keeping Mickael, they need to let us know," Walters said.

Warriors vice president Chris Mullin confirmed this week that he has been in contact with both Pietrus' and Barnes' representatives, but no deal appears close with the latter, either.

Barnes' agent, Dan Fegan, declined to answer questions while in Las Vegas for the summer league, but it's unlikely that the Warriors will commit close to their full midlevel exception to Barnes after paying the league minimum of $771,331 last season.

That leaves Barnes and Pietrus competing for dollars in a crowded yet unexceptional market that figures to get stingier as the summer progresses. Williams and Cleveland's Anderson Varejao are the top remaining names, but might not receive more than the midlevel, given the scarcity of teams left under the salary cap.

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