Report: Warriors, Harrison Barnes both want contract extension
The Golden State Warriors and forward Harrison Barnes both would like to work out a contract extension this off-season, reports Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News.
Barnes, 23, will become a restricted free agent after next season. He is due $3.87 million for the season after making $3.04 million for 2014–2015.
A first-round draft pick out of North Carolina in 2012, Barnes has enjoyed a strong postseason as the Warriors have made their run to the NBA Finals. Over 16 playoff games, he has averaged 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and has shot 46.2% from the field.
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In the regular season, Barnes started all 82 games and averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 48.2%.
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Thompson estimates Barnes could receive between $10 million and $12 million from the Warriors. A contract extension for him would kick in during the 2016-17 season, when forward David Lee’s $15 million contract comes off the books. NBA commissioner Adam Silver also said on Thursday that the salary cap in 2016–2017 is expected to be roughly $90 million.
Barnes juggled varying roles in the Warriors’s rotation over his first three seasons, posting career highs with 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 28.3 minutes this season. Over 241 career games (187 starts), he has averaged 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes.
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In the Warriors’s Game 1 overtime 108–100 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Barnes scored 11 points while shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. He also added six rebounds.
- Mike Fiammetta
