According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Houston Rockets are interested in trading for Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes.
The Kings have been calling opposing front offices to gauge the value of Barnes and Kevin Huerter.
“League sources say that the Rockets also have a level of interest in Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes in their quest to add shooting,” Stein wrote. “The Kings, though, are openly trying to use Barnes’ deal (this is Year 1 of a three-year, $54 million extension) as the centerpiece of a trade package for a big-swing acquisition.”
Barnes is averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks this season while shooting 47.8% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 80.5% from the free-throw line. He’s making $17 million.
The Kings signed Barnes to a three-year, $54 million extension in June. They offered Barnes to the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam, but a trade wasn’t agreed upon.
The Rockets are 19-20. They are in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Kings are 23-16. They are in fifth place in the West.
The Rockets are 19th in the NBA in 3-point field goals and 19th in 3-point field goal percentage. They need more shooters around Alperen Sengun, so it makes sense that Barnes is a trade target. The veteran swingman is a career 37.9% shooter from deep.
The 31-year-old Barnes has career averages of 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks with the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Kings. He won the 2015 championship with the Warriors and has played in 71 postseason games. The UNC product could be a quality addition to the Rockets’ rotation.
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