Consider Matt Barnes

by willthehawk on Jul 7, 2009 5:20 PM MDT

I was a HUGE supporter of Matt Barnes signing with the Suns last summer. Unfortunately, he didn't have a fantastic season percentage wise. He only shot 42% from the field and made some bonehead turnovers throughout the course of the year.

But...

An article on azcentral.com reports that Gentry wants him back. After all, he did average 10ppg which isn't bad (especially considering the Suns may lose Grant Hill and his solid production). Barnes also had a knack for finding fastbreak opportunities. How many full court passes did we see from him? Plenty!

His defense was also good enough to warrant resigning him. I compare his D to that of ex-sun James Jones. He's a good athletic rebounder who can block some shots and get in people's face.

Naturally, Barnes will be looking for more than the vet minimum. I think that if Hill goes elsewhere or the Suns can't nab Marion, that Barnes has to get resigned! Not for tons of money, but something around the 2mil range for 2 years may be able to keep him.

I've always thought that any player that hits a game winner deserves a shot to stick with their team. Remember the game vs. the Thunder back in November? awesome!

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Just b/c Gentry

told him to his face that he wants him back doesn’t make it so…

Barnes is a frustrating player in so many ways but he does bring some things. I would rather have Dudley get those minutes though. He’s just as good defensively (albeit different) and he he’s a much smarter player.

I like having Matt’s toughness on a team looking to get over the top. For Phx right now I would rather see how much more JD can develop.

Matt would be a great pick up in Boston btw to back up Pierce if they don’t get Hill

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Jul 7, 2009 5:28 PM MDT reply actions

i agree.

with everything you just said.

barnes wouldn’t be a bad option, but we also have younger options that we need to develop. give those minutes to JD, and earl clark has more time to perhaps get out from behind dudley and amundson, as kerr has said.

so, we give JD more time at SF, lou more minutes at PF, and clark can pick up a few minutes here and there at both positions, more of them coming at SF, i’d say.

by Trevor Paxton on Jul 7, 2009 7:10 PM MDT up reply actions

Agreed..dudley deserves and should get his minutes. Barnes isn’t a bad player when he stays within his game, but he has the tendency to think he is better than he is….and takes way too many threes. Dudley is more fundamentally sound and is just flat out going to be better than Barnes. Plus we just drafted Earl Clark….We all want to see him play.

by cabezonication on Jul 8, 2009 12:46 AM MDT up reply actions

i'd buy this for a dollar

I’d bring him back for sure..tho he sure gets crucified on these boards, really his only real downside is that his shot selection can be bad sometimes, which was made worse when he hit a 3 point funk..but the bottom line is that if coach wanted to put a stop to that he would.
I think alot of the grief he gets around here is also due to the fact that he got stuck as a PF in place of amare for the last half of the season ( out of desperation ), which i think it’s hardly fair to blame him for.

bottom line-if he’ll come back for a reasonable amount we should take him

by Fritzy on Jul 8, 2009 12:24 AM MDT reply actions

good points!!

I was a big supporter of him at minimum. If we get him 1 year under 3 million, to support an aging cast of rental stars, then fine. Otherwise, again, its time to move on.

Who are these guys again?

by ZonaFlash on Jul 8, 2009 2:56 AM MDT up reply actions

I'd take Barnes any day over Hill, over Marion, even.

He’s not done yet, and that is the sole reason why. Hill had his first and last 82 game season this year, which is fine and dandy, but we need consistency. Shawn Marion’s on the way downwards; anyone who doesn’t see that needs their eyes checked. Matt Barnes has been consistent on defense and outside, and you can’t get enough defense when you’re the Suns.

by hookedonphoenix on Jul 8, 2009 9:47 PM MDT reply actions