North Carolina Tar Heels: Barnes to Dallas
North Carolina Tar Heels alum Harrison Barnes will reportedly sign a four year $94 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks
North Carolina Tar Heels alum Harrison Barnes was probably the hardest hit by the developments on the fourth of July. In the course of an announcement, Barnes learned that he would no longer be a member of the winningest team in a single season in NBA history. Instead his place would be taken by Kevin Durant.
Barnes had already been preparing for this possibility. He had signed an offer sheet for a max contract with the Dallas Mavericks. That move was supposed to tip the hand of the Golden State Warriors since if Durant waited for more than three days, they would lose Barnes to Dallas without knowing if Durant was going to make the move. Durant moved faster than that.
So now Barnes is off on a new NBA journey to Dallas. At the very least he will be well paid. The Mavericks did successfully bring back Dirk Nowitzki for two more years. They also brought back point guard Deron Williams. That should mean the Mavericks will sport a lineup of Barnes, Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews, Williams and soon to be traded for Andrew Bogut.
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On face that is not a bad grouping. The trouble is that the Mavericks play in the West where the standard is consistently getting raised around them. The Clippers are intact, the Spurs added Pau Gasol, the Jazz added Joe Johnson, and of course the Warriors added Durant. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder are taking some steps backwards.
The Mavericks are kind of an interesting team since they are built around a series of good players but not one that is overwhelmingly great. Nowitzki just doesn’t reach that plateau anymore. It is a void that Barnes could step into, but frankly it would surprise a number of people if he did. Mostly we expect Barnes to add some shooting and play some defense.
The hardest part for Barnes may be when the Mavs play the Warriors next season and having to face his old teammates. At least he has his title ring already and no one can take him off the record-setting 2015-6 Warriors.