1: Harrison Barnes
We don’t want to say that 2015 NBA champion Harrison Barnes is wasting away right now but that’s kind of what’s happening. He’s having a solid season but you don’t hear his name much. Why? Because he’s on the 19-35 Kings.
The 3-and-D forward is averaging 16.6 points and six rebounds in the 49 games that he’s played in for Sacramento. Barnes is shooting 45.6% from the field and 40.7% (nearly a career-high) from the 3-point line.
The Lakers need someone that can knock down open 3-pointers and Barnes can do that. He’d also be able to take pressure off James on the defensive end.
When Los Angeles signed Kent Bazemore during the offseason, it was thought that he was going to play the role of a versatile wing. However, he’s fallen out of the rotation and could be traded to make a spot for buyout candidate Paul Millsap.
That makes a potential Barnes trade that much more appealing. However, trading for him would come at a cost. He signed a four-year, $85 million contract with the Kings before the start of the 2019-20 season. The 29-year-old is making $20.3 million this year and is set to make $18.4 million next season.
Barnes is a hot trade topic and the Kings are going to have to sift through a few offers, meaning that the Lakers will have to put forward a strong offer to have a shot at Barnes. Los Angeles’ top offer would likely have to include Talen Horton-Tucker and the 2027 first-round pick at the very least.