With over $32 million in cap room, the Pacers were a top candidate if Harrison Barnes decided to leave in free agency and switch teams. However, Barnes will stick around with Sacramento, as the Kings keep Barnes for at least three more seasons.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Barnes has agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract to stay in Sacramento after helping them return to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2006.
The forward, despite connections with former Kings point/shooting guard Tyrese Haliburton and head coach Rick Carlisle, decides to not go to Indiana and stays with a young potential playoff-caliber team. Barnes averaged 15.0 points per game with the Kings last season, as they went 48-34, third best in the Western Conference.
Carlisle was the head coach of the Mavericks when Barnes was traded from the Golden State Warriors to Dallas from 2016 into the 2018-2019 season. The 31-year-old was the most productive as a Maverick, as he averaged 18.7 points per game.
But with the Kings, he will be a valuable starter on a team with stars like point guard De’Aaron Fox, shooting guard Kevin Huerter, power forward Keegan Murray and center Domanas Sabonis. Losses to the Warriors were the thing that prevented Sacramento to advance further to the playoffs.
The All-star point guard Haliburton was drafted by the Kings in 2020 and was one of Barnes’ closest friends on the team before he was traded. The Pacers have a few options in free agency, but Barnes won’t be one of them.
