The Warriors will sign free agent forward Matt Barnes for the remainder of the season in the wake of the hyperextended left knee suffered by All-Star Kevin Durant during Tuesday’s 109-106 loss to the Wizards, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported early Wednesday.
The Warriors will reportedly first sign free agent Jose Calderon, fulfilling their pledge to the 12-year veteran, before picking up Barnes to shore up the roster for what could be an extended absence for Durant.
ESPN sources tell @ChrisBHaynes and me that Golden State plans to sign veteran swingman Matt Barnes in the wake of the Kevin Durant injury.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 1, 2017
Sources tell Haynes and me that the Warriors plan to sign Jose Calderon as they promised but then waive him to make room for Matt Barnes.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 1, 2017
Durant left minutes into Tuesday’s game after teammate Zaza Pachulia inadvertently fell into his leg while grappling with Wizards center Marcin Gortat. He was slated for an MRI.
This would mark Barnes’ second stint with the Warriors, for whom he played from 2006-08. He was most recently with the Kings, averaging 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds before being waived leading up to last week’s trade deadline.
Barnes told The Undefeated’s Marc Spears his return to Golden State is “a dream come true.”
"It's a dream come true! I feel like I helped start something in '07 & now I'm coming back to help finish it,"Matt Barnes on Warriors return
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) March 1, 2017
He followed that up with a post on Instagram:
