Why the Los Angeles Lakers do this trade?
The Los Angeles Lakers have their cornerstones in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They need to do a better job this offseason of surrounding them with complementary players and there aren’t many players that fit that bill better than Harrison Barnes.
Barnes has experience playing a supporting role on a contending team. He did it with the Golden State Warriors to perfection during the 2014-15 season when they won the NBA title. He has only improved in those supporting facets of his game as his career has gone on.
Barnes is an excellent 3-point shooter, knocking down 37.7 percent of his attempts in his career, including three straight seasons of making at least 38.1 percent from the 3-point line. In addition to his 3-point shooting, Barnes is good enough offensively to consistently take advantage of mismatches, something the team lacked this season.
He is also a strong rebounder, averaging 5.1 per game in his career and is an improving playmaker. With the ball in his hands more with the Sacramento Kings, he averaged a career-high 3.5 assists per game during the 2020-21 season.
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Defensively, Barnes will fit in well. He can defend either forward position, giving the Lakers a solid power forward option alongside Davis when they use him at center. He can even play some small-ball center, a role Markieff Morris had been filling.
It feels as if Barnes has been in the league forever, but he is just entering his prime. He turned 29 in May and has plenty of productive seasons ahead of him. Barnes is also signed through 2023, so the Lakers would have some much-needed consistency in place acquiring him in a trade.
