Does anyone still think Harrison Barnes is worth a max from the C's?

[rondohondo]

He isn't a # 1 or 2 option, Crowder is locked up to one of the best contracts in the league offering all-nba type defense while being able to contribute 15 ppg .


No way I would offer Barnes a max.

[saltlover]

I do.  Yes, he'd be overpaid.  But the Celtics have saved so much by getting good contracts on AB, Crowder, and IT, not to mention Smart is a relative bargain on his rookie deal still.  It allows us to use their savings to subsidize a big deal for someone else.  But he's going to get a max offer from somebody, because he'll be 24, can guard multiple positions, and is a 37% lifetime shooter from 3.  He's at least got Demarre Carroll potential, and we saw the market for Carroll last year.

Furthermore, he's an upgrade over Jerebko (and that's not an insult to JJ, who's been a fine playing since January) because he's much more defensively versatile.  We have 11-12 players under contract next year, including 2-3 of our 8 draft picks.  We have $55+ million in cap room for 3-4 roster spots.  We can spend $20 million on Barnes because we'll have $20 million to spend on a single player, and he'll be the best option available if we don't get KD.

Should he be plan A? No.  But I would still be quite pleased with Barnes as plan B.  (My plan C is Bazemore.)

[boscel33]

I do.  Barnes and Horford in the off season. Success.

[Fred Roberts]

I do. He has the prototype skill set for the game today. Brad could get a lot out of him....

Then again, best to let Danny and Brad decide. I thought Jeff Green was the guy not long ago.

[TA9]

Yup! The best of all is that he has room to grow, which could make him somewhat of a "bargain" if he ends up being better player in 2 years time.

[byennie]

In a vacuum I'm not sure he's a "max" guy, but this is an accounting and opportunity game. Certainly he's not worth 2-3x Crowder, but that's also irrelevant.

I don't have the exact numbers handy, but I believe he would make about $21M in his first year so we're looking at roughly $85M for his age 25-28 years. Compare to Horford (30-33) or DeRozan (27-30) for closer to $110M and it's at least tempting. Next summer guys will have the chance to make $30M/year in some cases, so in a way Barnes would be at 2/3 max.

He's a true two-way, multi-position player who can shoot the 3. Maybe not a star, but it sure does fit our mold.

Obviously the target is Durant, but it would sure be an interesting team if we invested in bottom tier (meaning $$ wise) max guys like Whiteside and Barnes, kept our pick, and resigned Sully. We'd be absolutely overflowing 12 deep.

Thomas / Rozier
Bradley / Smart
Crowder / Barnes
Sully / (Mickey / Crowder / Barnes)
Whiteside / Olynyk

bench: Young, Hunter, Bender?, Dallas pick (Maine), euro stashes

Minutes something like:

[GUARDS] Thomas, Bradley, Smart: 25-30, Rozier 10-20
[WINGS] Crowder, Barnes: 30 (24 each at SF, some PF minutes each)
[BIG MEN] Sully, Whiteside, Olynk: 25-30, Mickey 10-20

+ Young, Hunter, Mickey
 

[nickagneta]

If I am paying max money, I want a star. Harrison Barnes is a lot of things: versatile, efficient, athletic, young, etc. But he is not a star and nothing in his game while watching him or in his stats points to him suddenly exploding on the scene as something much more than what he has been these past four seasons. At least in my opinion anyway.

Barnes is a fine player. He could start for a lot of teams and be a good starter. I think he is probably better suited anchoring a bench though. He could be a perennial sixth man of the year candidate. But that doesn't equate to max money.

[Kane3387]

I don't. He's basically Jeff green to me.

[BitterJim]

If I am paying max money, I want a star. Harrison Barnes is a lot of things: versatile, efficient, athletic, young, etc. But he is not a star and nothing in his game while watching him or in his stats points to him suddenly exploding on the scene as something much more than what he has been these past four seasons. At least in my opinion anyway.

Barnes is a fine player. He could start for a lot of teams and be a good starter. I think he is probably better suited anchoring a bench though. He could be a perennial sixth man of the year candidate. But that doesn't equate to max money.

The same could have been said about Harden while he was on OKC.  It's hard to tell quite how good a player can be when they're only the 3rd or 4th option

[PaulAllen]

Worth the money... No ... however there will be plenty of overpaid players once the cap goes to the moon ...

But again picture this current team with Barnes and a possibility of Simmons, Ingram, or Hield ..
Do not have to give up anything and still have those critical pieces for the future..

[mctyson]

No. I'd rather give Horford the max and use the money to resign Sullinger.

[saltlover]

No. I'd rather give Horford the max and use the money to resign Sullinger.

At our current cap projection, we very likely could sign Horford, Barnes, and keep Sully.  Does that change your thinking?

[Denis998]

Call me crazy, but I'd rather give that money to KD

[alldaboston]

Call me crazy, but I'd rather give that money to KD

Far from crazy lol

[saltlover]

Call me crazy, but I'd rather give that money to KD

I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't (although KD will get $5 million more).  But virtually everyone on this board who wants Barnes says "assuming we can't get KD."  Don't insult our intelligence please.