NBA Rumors: Warriors’ Harrison Barnes Could Consider Philadelphia 76ers

NBA Rumors: Harrison Barnes Could Consider Signing with Philadelphia 76ers

It happened in Rio. Or rather it COULD happen in Rio.  No, wait… it COULD happen as a RESULT of Rio.

Let’s start over… The Philadelphia 76ers are eager to enter the free agency sweepstakes, and until something very surprising happens, miraculous happens, or both, there is not much likelihood of news to report.

Unless there is… THIS.

Chris Ryan of Ringer.com is putting his reputation on the line reporting that there is some brewings in the back burner which could lead to Harrison Barnes giving serious consideration to the Philadelphia 76ers. This is not the first such mention:

But before we start assigning Harrison Barnes his Phildelphia 76ers’ jersey number, let’s do the backstory.    Harrison Barnes has been named to Team USA as an Olympian in training.

It just so happens that this will place him squarely on a collision path with two Philadelphia 76ers players who have been named to Team USA select: center Jahlil Okafor and forward Jerami Grant.
Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA National Team from July 18-21 (12:00-2:00 p.m. PDT) at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. All practices are closed to the public. But it is during that time of practicing that Harrison Barnes will meet the players of the Philadelphia 76ers close up, and get to talk to them about the team and the direction of the franchise.

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You see, Barnes has long been discussed as a potential target in free agency for the Philadelphia 76ers.  He is a veteran presence whose age allows for a long term consideration to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, versatility to slide up or down the lineup as needed, and his skills on defense and perimeter shooting certainly highlight a deep area of need on this 76ers team.   The pursuit of Barnes on a max deal, at a time when there is so much money to throw at a solid player in the NBA, makes complete sense when you look at it from the Philadelphia 76ers sense.

But why would a player descend from an NBA best team to the NBA worst team?  Here is where Chris Ryan has a curious theory:

"When you think about it, Barnes in Philly makes a lot of sense.Here’s the case: Barnes would get to be the new face of the franchise. He wouldn’t just be paid, he would be valued — treated as an essential part of a team, not just a supporting player. He would be able to take the pressure off of the Sixers’ younger players like Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons. He would immediately be the best basketball player, right now, and the no. 1 option on that team. His numbers would inevitably jump, and he’d quickly enter the conversation for the Eastern Conference All-Star team. It wouldn’t even be a drastic system change for Barnes, as Sixers coach Brett Brown and Warriors coach Steve Kerr both employ pass-and-move principles learned from San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich. Everything about it makes sense.Except for the part where Philly has won only 47 games in the past three seasons.This would be a shock to the system for Barnes. He would be leaving one of the best regular-season teams of all time and joining one of the worst. So the Sixers would have to entice him, to convince him that the only way is up, that they will spend their money on good players to surround him, that their young core has the chance to explode, and that he could be the catalyst for their future success. Winning a title in Golden State was impressive. Just getting the Sixers back into the playoffs? Call the pope. St. Harrison has a nice ring to it.In the end, the Sixers might not need the special adviser to the managing partner to make a come-to-Philly-and-I-send-you-to-Rio promise. The situation actually sells itself: playing in a weaker conference, being the first option on offense, getting your name in lights and face on billboards. Not a lot of other teams can offer what the Sixers can."

The free agency market is about relationships.  There is a clear and undeniable relationship between Jerry Colangelo and Harrison Barnes now.  We’ve known that the Philadelphia 76ers are becoming alarmingly more interested in signing a veteran free agent.  Right now, Barnes would seem to be an ideal candidate.

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And if he looks at the 76ers roster of anchored by Simmons and Embiid, he will understand that his career could skyrocket in that lineup.  Have I gotten a direct quote from Bryan Colangelo saying the offer has been made?  No.

On Tuesday, a new wrinkle entered the equation.

But the risk of trying is failing. The risk of never trying is complete failure.  There is no way to determine the Warriors success in signing Kevin Durant, nor in whether they will truly be committed to using the Bird exemption for Barnes.  Yes, for now it’s just an expense. But tomorrow?  It’s an anchor that must be addressed.  And so, all we need is an NBA source to give this a green light.

Well now, let me rephrase that. Mark Stein has NBA league sources now.

But I’ve identified something far better.  Compelling reasons why that offer SHOULD be made.