Matt Barnes' rags-to-riches story is becoming infamous. He almost quit basketball to become an NFL wide receiver last summer, he didn't have a job two weeks before Opening Night, Maurice Cheeks tried to ruin his career, blah blah blah...But there's little doubt Barnes has earned himself a decent contract with his season-long consistency and his new playoff 'glue guy' reputation. Interestingly, his game isn't terribly different than exiled point forward Mike Dunleavy Jr., except Barnes can rebound and defend and isn't afraid to go to the rim. Dunleavy is making $8 million. Barnes? $770,000.
How much will Barnes earn on the open market this summer? Well, you assume Golden State would like to keep him -- he fits the system and the roster well, as these playoffs have shown. But Golden State already has $61 million earmarked for next year. Boom Dizzle and J-Rich and Adonal F. Foyle ain't cheap. The team can pay Barnes since he's on their roster despite salary cap woes, but they're pretty damn close to the luxury tax if they give him $5-6 million. And this is to say nothing of Mickael Pietrus, who has been equally revelationary of late. Pietrus is a restricted free agent, which means Golden State will have to match any other offers teams make for the Frenchman in order to keep him. It's almost assured that GSW will have to choose only one or the other.
Where's the rest of the market for Barnes? Matty is 27 years old, so it's doubtful a team in full rebuild mode will make a play. The teams with cap room are expected to aim a little higher, at Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter. Veteran teams who will be looking for sticky small forwards -- Miami, the Lakers -- will only be able to offer the mid-level, which is $5.1 million or so. Is that Barnes' fate, a 5-year deal for $27 million? It's what John Salmons got last summer, and given the circumstances it makes sense.
Barnes will never make as much as Dunleavy, but it's OK. For this guy -- who could very well have been begging Matt Millen for a job in June -- it's all OK. He's loving the game in Oakland and he'll have the biggest payday of his career this summer. For Matt Barnes, life is good.
