By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:26 am PDT Saturday, September 30, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/31939.html
The Philadelphia experiment was a failure of the worst kind, with Matt Barnes on an NBA roster one moment and off the league's radar the next.
But the blip is back for the Del Campo High School product and former Kings forward, as Barnes has been signed by Golden State and will join the Warriors in camp when it begins Tuesday.
Barnes, whose best times came in a four-month stint with the Kings before a 2005 trade that sent him to the 76ers, will receive no guaranteed money. A chance to make the team, though, is enough to give him hope that his NBA career hasn't submarined just yet.
"Getting a chance to play in California is a good opportunity, but I'm not on the team yet, so I can't get too excited," said Barnes, who has played in 137 games with four teams in three seasons. "I've just got to go out there and fight for a spot."
Barnes already has been given early directives from "new" Warriors coach Don Nelson, hired last month for his second go-round in Oakland.
"I talked to him (Thursday), and he told me they're looking for a player like me who plays hard and rebounds, so hopefully I can build on that," Barnes said.
That's all he has tried to do since leaving his hometown. Barnes, who was part of the deal that sent Chris Webber to the 76ers, has been unable to find a role like he had with the Kings. After the trade, Barnes never hit the floor for the 76ers in 2005.
He signed with New York after becoming a free agent, then worked his way into five starts before being waived after six games with the forward-heavy Knicks. He signed with Philadelphia again last December, averaging 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 10.8 minutes in 50 games.
"It's been very frustrating," Barnes said. "Philly really set me back. It was probably the hardest time in my life, these past two seasons in Philly. It was definitely a growing point. But the past is the past. Hopefully I can stay in Golden State for a while."
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:26 am PDT Saturday, September 30, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/31939.html
The Philadelphia experiment was a failure of the worst kind, with Matt Barnes on an NBA roster one moment and off the league's radar the next.
But the blip is back for the Del Campo High School product and former Kings forward, as Barnes has been signed by Golden State and will join the Warriors in camp when it begins Tuesday.
Barnes, whose best times came in a four-month stint with the Kings before a 2005 trade that sent him to the 76ers, will receive no guaranteed money. A chance to make the team, though, is enough to give him hope that his NBA career hasn't submarined just yet.
"Getting a chance to play in California is a good opportunity, but I'm not on the team yet, so I can't get too excited," said Barnes, who has played in 137 games with four teams in three seasons. "I've just got to go out there and fight for a spot."
Barnes already has been given early directives from "new" Warriors coach Don Nelson, hired last month for his second go-round in Oakland.
"I talked to him (Thursday), and he told me they're looking for a player like me who plays hard and rebounds, so hopefully I can build on that," Barnes said.
That's all he has tried to do since leaving his hometown. Barnes, who was part of the deal that sent Chris Webber to the 76ers, has been unable to find a role like he had with the Kings. After the trade, Barnes never hit the floor for the 76ers in 2005.
He signed with New York after becoming a free agent, then worked his way into five starts before being waived after six games with the forward-heavy Knicks. He signed with Philadelphia again last December, averaging 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 10.8 minutes in 50 games.
"It's been very frustrating," Barnes said. "Philly really set me back. It was probably the hardest time in my life, these past two seasons in Philly. It was definitely a growing point. But the past is the past. Hopefully I can stay in Golden State for a while."
