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UNC Basketball Alumni: Sacramento to offer Harrison Barnes 4-year deal?

By Blake Cockrum

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings passes the ball against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings passes the ball against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings set to offer 4-year deal to former UNC basketball standout Harrison Barnes?

With NBA free agency opening up on Sunday evening, rumors of the Sacramento Kings’ potential deal to keep Harrison Barnes on the team have been surfacing over the past few days. Barnes, who recently turned down a $25 million dollar player option, is looking for a long-term deal that will keep him under contract well past the age of 30.

The now-27-year-old Barnes joined the Kings on a mid-season deal that included sending another former Tar Heel, Justin Jackson, to the Dallas Mavericks. The Kings — who struggle to lure quality free agents into town — are now hoping to keep the eight-year NBA veteran in town for the foreseeable future.

Although Barnes isn’t a player that an NBA team can build around, he is a nice piece to add to a young core that boasts budding stars such as De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III and Bogdon Bogdanovic. The deal that is speculated to be in place — and confirmed by a number of league courses — is a 4-year, $88 million contract.

Is the deal a bit risky?  Sure, particularly if Barnes continues the recent decline in production that we’ve seen since he averaged 19 points and six rebounds with the Mavericks in 2018. On the other hand, he’s proven to be a quality shooter — he averaged a career-best 40.8 percent from three-point range in 28 games with the Kings — and can play both forward positions.

With Barnes starting salary ranging somewhere between $19 and $25 million, it would leave the Kings’ with upwards of $40 million in cap space this season. However, the team might want to pay him more up front in order to give the organization more flexibility when their current rookie contracts expire. That, and paying a 31-year old Barnes north of $20 million might feel pretty painful a few years down the road.

dark. Next. Danny Green to the Lakers?

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Harrison Barnes, and UNC basketball alumni in the NBA.

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