UNC in the NBA: What players could be moved at the trade deadline?

Harrison Barnes, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks

Seventh-year combo-forward Harrison Barnes is averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and a career-best 2.5 three-pointers per game for the 24-28 Dallas Mavericks. On a per-game basis, he’s second in scoring, fourth in rebounding and first in three-point shooting. Why would Mark Cuban push to move the 6-foot-8 Barnes?

Because the Mavericks are 10.8 points worse whenever Barnes is on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass.

That is, well, bad. Pretty, pretty bad.

Rick Carlisle’s motion offense, predicated on constant ball movement and maximum floor spacing, is ran almost entirely through the hands of rookie phenom Luka Doncic. Pick-and-roll sets, fakes, cuts and flairs are all used to spring shooters and slashers open for easy looks at the basket, be it at the rim or beyond the arc. Within the confines of this system, Barnes isn’t granted a large chunk of playmaking opportunities — granted, this seems more like the outcome of his own decision-making more than an order from the coach.

Whenever Barnes catches the ball on the move or out of designed plays, he’s able to find clean looks: His career-high 2.5 threes per game are evidence of this. But, whenever he grabs the ball in freelance motion, he often resorts to an incessant tendency to pound the ball and isolate, ignoring open teammates and settling for an ill-timed pull-up jumper or cramped drive into traffic. One would hope that he makes up for this on the defensive end, but this just isn’t the case. Considering his inefficient offense and mediocre commodore defense, Barnes is rendered a negative contributor to the Mavericks playoff hopes.

And, when you factor in the $24.1 million he’s owed this season and his $25.1 million player option (which he most likely will accept), he hurts Dallas both on the court and off.
The surprise acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee represented a decision by Mavericks brass that they would forego any free-agent chase this offseason, as they are only set to have approximately $10 million in space if Harrison Barnes and Dwight Powell opt into their respective deals.

However, if the Mavs wish to free up a max spot (~$32 million), a Barnes trade would get them there. But what team is in the market for a large forward and has the expiring contracts necessary to make a trade?

Ah, that’s right. Sacramento.

If the Kings are unable to nab either Otto Porter or Mo Harkless, then a deal for Barnes could be in order. According to various reports (too many to mention, really), there is mutual interest between the Kings and Mavericks in swapping Barnes for expiring contracts. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the Kings “would love” to add Barnes to their roster.

Barnes is struggling with Dallas, that much is true. But he isn’t condemned to the status of a “chucker,” and a move elsewhere — into a new environment and, most importantly, a new system — could help him improve and reach a state of relative efficiency.

Whatever the case may be, close attention should be paid to the Mavericks: They’ve already made one splash and they’re not afraid of making more.

For more coverage on Wayne Ellington, John Henson, Tony Bradley, Justin Jackson, Harrison Barnes and other Tar Heels in the NBA, stick with Keeping It Heel.