The Philadelphia 76ers will be mounting a firm bid for the championship in the coming season, which gives them a good reason to keep a close eye on the Finalists from last season. The Knicks will be the benchmark until they get dethroned, but the other huge threat is the Spurs, a team widely reckoned by many to be the favorites to win the title. That being said, Philly might have an entirely different reason to keep tabs on San Antonio next season –– Harrison Barnes.
Barnes, who re-upped with the Spurs this summer to the tune of a one-year, $8 million deal, might end up being the odd man out for their team next season. With the addition of Tobias Harris, the continued ascent of Julian Champagnie, the expected rise of Carter Bryant, as well as the presence of Keldon Johnson, there is simply not a lot of legroom for the veteran to have meaningful playing time. As such, he could end up being a buyout candidate later in the season.
The 76ers should pay close attention on the Spurs due to Harrison Barnes
The 15-year veteran is a great fit for the 76ers, hypothetically speaking. Aside from the fact that he has ample playoff and championship experience, he actually does fill a position of need for Philly. After all, the team could still use a sizable forward who can hit open shots and defend at an average level at the very least.
A career 38.5 percent three-point shooter, Barnes would be a welcome addition to a Philly squad not exactly teeming with firepower in the perimeter. Even better, he can still put the ball in the rack and create shots for himself when facing a favorable matchup.
Another underrated part when it comes to Barnes is his availability. He almost never misses games due to injury, and that is especially valuable to a 76ers team that would love to have even more depth due to its injury-prone players.
San Antonio has one of the deepest rosters in the league, and Philadelphia can take advantage of that to bring in someone like Barnes, who will most likely be stuck on the bench for the most part. That way, they can improve their roster while stripping another title contender of some valuable depth insurance.
Harrison Barnes is no longer a starting-caliber player, but he can still be a solid contributor in a streamlined role. If his exposure on the Spurs continue to diminish and a buyout looms, the 76ers should pounce.
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