Desperate to bolster their ultra-thin bench, the Golden State Warriors are even entertaining offers for promising second-year forward Harrison Barnes.
With the NBA trade deadline less than a week away, reports say the Warriors realize getting what they truly crave may mean having to offer up a piece as valued as they view the 21-year-old second year swingman.
“Golden State is on the lookout for bench help and is hoping to use its trade exceptions as a way to facilitate such a deal that would likely need to involve three teams,” USA TODAY Sports reports, adding that several rival execs further speculate, with the exception of guard Stephen Curry and center Andrew Bogut, anyone on their roster could now be had for the right price.
No one is garnering any more attention than the silky-smooth Barnes, who has averaged 10 points and four rebounds over his first two NBA seasons. Through the All-Star break, the Warriors bench ranks as second-to-last in the league in productivity, averaging just over 24 points a game, nearly half of them by the 6-foot-8, 210 pound former North Carolina star.
Barnes struggled with just a 33 percent shooting and seven points per game in January, but already has 10 games this season where he’s netted at least 15 points while averaging just 25 minutes.
Another trade scenario rumored to potentially involve the Western Conference’s eight-seeded team (31-21) centers around streaky shooting guard Klay Thompson, who is currently averaging 18 points and three rebounds while earning just $2.4 million per season.
In his third season as Curry’s capable sidekick, the 24-year-old Thompson is averaging 16 points, three rebounds and two assists.
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