Locke Dating Game: Matt Barnes

Who: Matt Barnes
Why is he available: Free Agent
What would it take: Not clear what the market will be.  Suns are limited with their money - Last year he earned 1 million
Why would they do it: Because Kevin Ferguson told them too...

Why is this a good move: Energetic active player. Became an NBA player over the past three years with Golden State and Phoenix

Why is this a bad move: He has only been successful in open court system.  He has poor basketball IQ.  Is a shot first guy.  In both of the last two years he uses possessions below the league average.  Only goes to the free throw line 7% of his possessions last year in Phoenix and 6% of the time in Golden State.  Is strictly an open floor player who shots a lot of spot up three's which doesn't mesh with the Jazz system.  The Suns were a better team when he was on the bench than when he was on the floor last year the same was true for the Warriors.  In both cases the Suns and Warriors were better defensive teams when he was on the bench. 

Overall: Kevin Ferguson wanted me to run the numbers and analysis on Barnes.   He is a high volume low efficiency player who does not make you better defensively.  This is the player that gets valued in this league for averaging 10 pts a game and the average player in the league would do the same with those possessions.  My numbers show he is slightly better than a D-Leaguer therefore I see no need to spend the money that could be used for a D-Leaguer that is almost as good. 

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