Bob Ryan - Celtics very interested in Barnes

[lon3lytoaster]

Really seems like Danny is way more interested in this lottery class than any previous one. I don't think there's anything set in stone, but with this level of interest I'd be shocked if he didn't think there was a trade to be made, and even moreso if he hasn't already discussed some with other lottery GMs.

With that said, I'm hoping Barnes is a smokescreen for Drummond. I have an extremely hard time telling the difference between Barnes and Martell Webster still. If there is in fact a trade to be made, I hope this guy isn't the target.
 
But I wouldn't be surprised to hear Andy Katz say on draft night "This pick is being made for Boston as a part of a proposed deal to send so and so to so and so for so and so."

[Galeto]

The guy at Hoopsanalyst who writes a very fine draft preview every year had a piece on Barnes and he wasn't impressed. 

http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=864

The feeling out there about Harrison Barnes seems to be that while he’s definitely overhyped, at least he’ll become a player in the mold of a Rudy Gay or Luol Deng and that’s not a bad catch in the 5-10 range of the draft. I think that’s way too optimistic. Here is a look at Barnes compared to SFs drafted in the top 10 in recent years. Players are listed in order of NBA accomplishment, or a reasonable guess at such:

Player   
2PP

3PP

P40

R40

ASB40

A/TO

Kevin Durant   
505

404

27.3

11.8

5.4

0.5

Carmelo Anthony   
496

337

24.4

11.0

5.1

1.0

Shane Battier   
536

419

22.8

8.4

7.1

1.2

Andre Iguodala   
493

315

14.4

9.4

7.6

1.8

Rudy Gay   
500

318

19.4

8.3

7.0

0.8

Luol Deng   
514

360

19.4

8.9

5.4

0.8

Mike Miller   
559

338

19.7

9.2

5.8

1.3

Mike Dunleavy   
596

378

21.3

8.9

6.2

1.2

Josh Childress   
536

395

21.0

10.1

6.9

1.2

Marvin Williams   
522

432

20.4

11.8

4.1

0.5

Corey Brewer   
527

350

18.1

6.8

7.1

1.2

Adam Morrison   
523

428

30.7

6.0

3.5

0.8

Rodney White   
533

347

24.2

8.4

4.4

0.5

Joe Alexander   
480

260

21.4

8.9

5.9

1.1

Harrison Barnes   
469

358

21.7

6.6

3.3

0.6

ASB40 is combined assists, steals and blocks per 40 minutes in case you hadn’t figured that out. I use this, because it highlights versatility. This has historically been a big deal for SF prospects. Looking at the players on the list who were busts, starting at Marvin Williams, the clear trend is they come up short in at least one of these categories. Williams, Morrison and White had the low ASB40, Brewer was a poor rebounder and infrequent scorer, Alexander an inefficient scorer, White and Williams had the low A/TO, etc. The successful players may have had a poor number here and there, but all scored efficiently enough, rebounded well and posted an ASB40 over 5.0. Compared to the rest of this group Barnes is an inefficient scorer, a poor rebounder, passer and defender. His 3.3 ASB40 is the lowest number on the list and shows he lacks the all-around game successful SFs have always had. His .469 2-point percentage is also the lowest on the list and suggests the only skill he has yet to flash, scoring, won’t translate that well to the next level.

The next question would be whether or not it would be worthwhile to gamble on his youth and potential. He’s a smart, coachable young man by all accounts. It is possible that the right situation and hard work could turn him into the star he was projected to be coming out of college. Right? Anything is possible, but I have my doubts on this also. The only players who overcame a sub-4 ASB40 as college sophomores to become NBA stars were Glen Rice, Xavier McDaniel, Detlef Schrempf and Chuck Person. All played college ball in the 80s and I have come to not trust 80s numbers when evaluating current players. I’ll add that all other than Schrempf were much more efficient scorers, McDaniel was a PF in college and Rice and Person made their mark because elite shooting skills. Players with a great outside shot are often the exception to my prospect rules. Barnes has yet to display much of a talent for shooting the lights out, so I wouldn’t lump him in with Rice or Person.

This piece on Harrison Barnes made me think of Roger Dorn, the prima donna 3rd baseman from the movie Major League. Dorn was a fictional baseball player who never got his uniform dirty, because he didn’t want an injury to affect his next contract. Like Roger Dorn, Barnes looks at sports as a business opportunity. Now that’s actually a smart thing. Any person would be a fool not to use an opportunity like Barnes has to make a lot of money out of it. What Barnes doesn’t seem to get is the best way to cash on basketball talent is to have a long, productive NBA career. Back to Dorn, the other similarity he and Barnes share is eschewing the dirty work of their professions. Dorn didn’t dive for ground balls. Barnes has low rates of rebounds, steals and blocks and he rarely passes the ball to an open teammate. Any player who doesn’t do the little things in college is very unlikely to have a long NBA career and the riches that come with it.

Harrison Barnes looks like a player who will become an epic bust if drafted in the top 5 and a disappointment if drafted any time after that. He has played over 2200 minutes of college ball and he still hasn’t shown he can score efficiently enough or rebound, pass and defend well enough to become an effective NBA player. I might be willing to buy into his legendary potential and risk a draft choice around the time round 2 starts, but I would not draft him before that.

[diddybop]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

[erisred]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

[Donoghus]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

[erisred]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

No, I think Beal goes to Washington and Cleveland is left with MKG. Ariza is a 3 and I think MKG is going to be a 3 not a 2, so the Wizards would take Beal to pair with Wall in the back court. That's how I see it anyway.

[Chris]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

This makes no sense though.  Teams make promises with players, so they cancel workouts with teams picking in FRONT of them, not behind them.  If that workout was cancelled because of a promise (which I am not convinced of...I just think he might realize Sacramento would be a terrible fit...and his agent may be playing mind games), then it would only make sense if the promise was from 6 or below. 

[ManUp]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

I think Beal goes to Washington now that they have Ariza.

My guess Barnes is going 2 or 4, most likely 4.

[Donoghus]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

I think Beal goes to Washington now that they have Ariza.

My guess Barnes is going 2 or 4, most likely 4.

I didn't realize how long Ariza's contract runs.  Was under the impression that it was shorter than it is. Then I looked and, evidently, he's most likely there through '13-14.  Everything I've read has Washington pretty enamored with MKG but I can definitely see how the Wizards might go with Beal in this situation now after the trade.

[Chris]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

I think Beal goes to Washington now that they have Ariza.

My guess Barnes is going 2 or 4, most likely 4.

I didn't realize how long Ariza's contract runs.  Was under the impression that it was shorter than it is. Then I looked and, evidently, he's most likely there through '13-14.  Everything I've read has Washington pretty enamored with MKG but I can definitely see how the Wizards might go with Beal in this situation now after the trade.

Well, its just 2 seasons.  And I could definitely see him opt out next summer, to get a longterm deal, if he has a solid year. 

[diddybop]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

This makes no sense though.  Teams make promises with players, so they cancel workouts with teams picking in FRONT of them, not behind them.  If that workout was cancelled because of a promise (which I am not convinced of...I just think he might realize Sacramento would be a terrible fit...and his agent may be playing mind games), then it would only make sense if the promise was from 6 or below. 

Chris, I agree with you in that it could just be that the Maloof's are terrible owners and Sacramento is not a good fit at all.

Sounds like he impressed the Bobcats, but Robinson's name has been mentioned as well with the 2nd pick. Cleveland may have to choose between MKG/Barnes at #4.

[RebusRankin]

Harrison Barnes? Really? Marvin Williams 2.0?

[Celtics4ever]

I have a lot about CLE liking Barnes.  I doubt he slips past them.

[Smitty77]

Then, does this means Drummond is a slider and that Danny tries to swing a deal with Sacremento, Portland, or GS to get him??

Smitty77

[Donoghus]

Barnes cancelled his workout with Sacramento. Speculation he has a top-four promise.

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2012/6/19/3097885/sacramento-kings-draft-rumors-harrison-barnes

So, if "the trade" makes Beal almost a lock at 3, then Barnes must have a promise at 2...and that makes a whole lot of sense.

1. New Orleans- Davis
2. Charlotte- Barnes
3. Washington- MKG
4. Cleveland- Beal

I think Beal goes to Washington now that they have Ariza.

My guess Barnes is going 2 or 4, most likely 4.

I didn't realize how long Ariza's contract runs.  Was under the impression that it was shorter than it is. Then I looked and, evidently, he's most likely there through '13-14.  Everything I've read has Washington pretty enamored with MKG but I can definitely see how the Wizards might go with Beal in this situation now after the trade.

Well, its just 2 seasons.  And I could definitely see him opt out next summer, to get a longterm deal, if he has a solid year. 

It's a possibility, I guess.