Trade Grade: Spurs Score Harrison Barnes, ’31 Pick Swap in Another Winning Move

The Spurs just added a rock solid veteran to the 2024–2025 roster after they helped facilitate the Kings’ DeMar DeRozan acquisition.

For their trouble, the Spurs added Harrison Barnes and netted a surprising 2031 unprotected Kings’ pick swap. I say surprising because I wouldn’t have thought the Kings would have been willing to give up a potentially super valuable draft pick just to land a past his prime DeRozan.

Barnes, 32, played in all 82 games last year for the Kings and averaged:

12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists with shooting percentages of 47.4%, 38.7% from three, and 80.1% from the free throw line.

This is another really good move with strong value.

While the pick swap provides tremendous potential upside, I’m more interested in Harrison Barnes.

Barnes is a quality starting power forward who knows how to play the game. And he furthers the leadership and intelligence Chris Paul brings to the team.

Last year, nobody on the team looked particularly interested in passing to Victor Wembanyama. Paul and Barnes will willingly play off Wemby and cash in on the opportunities that he affords them.

And while Stephon Castle will be entering his rookie year, he represents a third new acquisition that will raise the talent and ceiling of the Spurs.

Whether or not the Spurs add any additional players, this offseason is already a win. With Danny Ainge lording over the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen was always wishful thinking, but the Barnes trade was a very nice consolation prize.

I give the Spurs a B+ on the Barnes trade.

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2024–2025. The Spurs are in the playoffs.