Matt Barnes possible headed to Toronto (rumor)

[Rashi]

Hearing that Cavs and Matt Barnes not happening. He's likely headed to Toronto.

http://twitter.com/twithersAP

[Mike-Dub]

Well he will be playing with possibly the worst team in the league next season, but at least he is going to get his payday.  I'm still hoping we can land him.

[pearljammer10]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

[LooseCannon]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

[wdleehi]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

He is running out of time to get his big payday.

[pearljammer10]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

He is running out of time to get his big payday.

Its sad to see players choose paychecks over love of the game. These guys make millions of dollars a year to play their favorite sport. Guys like these dont give a crap about putting together a contending team when they can make an extra million or 2 bucks elsewhere. Its pathetic...

With that being said, I found this update on Barnes...

Source says that Cleveland is offering Matt Barnes the most money and playing time but he's still considering taking less to join contender. Twitter

[csfansince60s]

Unless we get him, at least he's not with the Heat, Magic, Fakers or anyone we will be in direct competition with in the playoffs, or for that matter during the regular season with any other in conference challengers (Bucks, Atlanta, Chi).

Good for him, if it's true that he took the cash and in so doing turned down the "privilege" of playing with our Big Four or the new, widely disparaged TRIO from South Beach.

If he has a family (and even if he doesn't), he owes it to himself and them at 30 to take the biggest contract he can get. This will most likely be his last chance for a deal above the vet minimum. He's gotta do it.

Good luck, Barnes. We could have used your grittiness here.

[wdleehi]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

He is running out of time to get his big payday.

Its sad to see players choose paychecks over love of the game. These guys make millions of dollars a year to play their favorite sport. Guys like these dont give a crap about putting together a contending team when they can make an extra million or 2 bucks elsewhere. Its pathetic...

With that being said, I found this update on Barnes...

Source says that Cleveland is offering Matt Barnes the most money and playing time but he's still considering taking less to join contender. Twitter

I don't blame them.  He is not a guy who has earned the really big dollars.  This is his chance to set himself up for life.  

[birdwatcher]

Man, he is just in it for the money. Too bad, we could use him...

[nickagneta]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

He is running out of time to get his big payday.

Its sad to see players choose paychecks over love of the game. These guys make millions of dollars a year to play their favorite sport. Guys like these dont give a crap about putting together a contending team when they can make an extra million or 2 bucks elsewhere. Its pathetic...

With that being said, I found this update on Barnes...

Source says that Cleveland is offering Matt Barnes the most money and playing time but he's still considering taking less to join contender. Twitter

I don't blame them.  He is not a guy who has earned the really big dollars.  This is his chance to set himself up for life.  

According to basketball-reference.com Barnes has only made $7.6 million over his 7 year career. I don't begrudge him going elsewhere even if it's for a few hundred thousand more. This isn't a guy who is used to making 8 figures a year. He needs to maximize his career earnings. To guys like these winning should be secondary to taking care of his family, IMHO.

[pearljammer10]

Only 7.6 million?......ONLY?? This is exactly what I'm talking about.

[footey]

once his career ends in a few more years, he has nothing to fall back on. You can't blame guys, especially journey guys like him, to get as much as they can while they can. 

[nickagneta]

Only 7.6 million?......ONLY?? This is exactly what I'm talking about.

And what exactly is it you are talking about? For career earnings for a guy in professional sports, that is not a lot of money. Most of these guys have little to nothing to fall back on as a career after leaving sports. They HAVE to maximize their potential earnings.

This isn't some star turning down a $15 million a year because he wants to get a longer better contract. This is a guy who averages around the minimum amount he can make while playing this game.

In his case, your point is kind of strange. He isn't turning down huge dollars from a winning team to go get gigantic dollars elsewhere. He may be turning down minimum dollars for one year for the opportunity at a 2 or 3 year contract for more than the minimum somewhere else. How can you begrudge him that.

Professional sports is a job first and foremost and while those that do it want to win and want to have championships, making money has to be their first priority.

[ManUp]

Love of the game my butt. We live in the real world where you don't pass up millions of dollars and financial security of family and friends. You are lying to yourself if you think you'd be doing anything differently from Barnes if you were in the same situation.

[Mr October]

Ouch Barnes... Why would he do that? He really is desperate for a paycheck and doesnt care about winning.

What's wrong with getting paid?

He is running out of time to get his big payday.

Its sad to see players choose paychecks over love of the game. These guys make millions of dollars a year to play their favorite sport. Guys like these dont give a crap about putting together a contending team when they can make an extra million or 2 bucks elsewhere. Its pathetic...

With that being said, I found this update on Barnes...

Source says that Cleveland is offering Matt Barnes the most money and playing time but he's still considering taking less to join contender. Twitter

If someone told you that you could play for Miami for 1 year and 1.5 million OR you could play for Toronto for 10 million over 2 years, what would you do?

I'll take 10 million every day of the week.