November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward
(40) shoots the basketball against Chicago Bulls forward
(20) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
3. Harrison Barnes
Considering his success both as an individual and as a player with the Golden State Warriors, Harrison Barnes is going to demand a hefty contract this offseason. As a restricted free agent, the Warriors will be able to match any deal thrown his way as he hits the market. Whether or not they’ll be willing to put another big contract on the books remains to be seen.
Barnes is a fantastic two-way player who is one of the many unique options for Golden State that allows them to play their lethal brand of small-ball. His length and size allows him to defend multiple positions, as does his quickness and agility for a player his size. He could really serve as an anchor on the perimeter for the Lakers defense.
Throw in the fact that Barnes is also a high quality threat to score from the perimeter and that he also has the athleticism to be near unstoppable when he attacks the rim and Barnes is a highly intriguing option for the Lakers to pursue in free agency next summer. For a player with his talent and the upside ahead of him considering his age, he’s a player the LA front office should unquestionably go after.
Next: No. 2 Batum