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Bench
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13469292p-14310198c.html
The Del Campo High grad wants a job and is working the keypad and the hardwood toward that end.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 25, 2005
Some NBA players can job-shop without a résumé. The league's general managers know their names and their games the way they know their own payroll, with no need for sales pitches of "Here's what Ray Allen can do for you ... "
And then there are players like Matt Barnes.
For as much progress as the Del Campo High School product has made in his two seasons, and for as productive as his 43 games as a King were before he was sent to Philadelphia in the Chris Webber trade in February, the free agent still is a commodity in need of not only a job, but an explanation.
So a few weeks back, Barnes' agent, Bill Neff, sent an e-mail to every general manager in the league, hoping to educate the masses as to what his guy could bring to the floor. It was a detailed comparison of Barnes to other youthful forwards, making a convincing argument Barnes could be as valuable as those players who make so much more money.
Rebounds, assists and steals were prorated on a per-48-minutes basis, with Barnes looking every bit as productive as players like Chicago's Luol Deng, Dallas' Josh Howard or Charlotte's Gerald Wallace.
"I think people were real surprised at how high he was in those categories," Neff said. "I wanted people to understand the essence of Matt."
Below the blockbuster deals - i.e. Shaquille O'Neal's $100 million deal or Allen's for $85 million - are the negotiations that involve players still looking to secure their long-term future. Barnes merely is among the masses, with an immediate goal of becoming the next Bobby Simmons. The Milwaukee forward is the new poster boy for untapped potential, someone for young players not named LeBron to emulate.
After a short stint in the National Basketball Development League, Simmons turned in three quiet seasons with Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he and Barnes competed for the same spot. Then came Simmons' breakout season, which led to his signing a five-year, $47 million contract with Milwaukee in early August. Barnes can relate only to the tougher part of the journey, having played in the American Basketball Association and NBDL out of UCLA before signing with the Clippers in 2003.
"You look at (Simmons), and say 'My God, the guy got an opportunity for one year, and he gets $47 million,' " Neff said. "You just roll your eyes, and say, 'OK, how can I get my guy into a position to do the same?' "
The league's new amnesty rule has done little to speed up the free-agent process. Eighteen players were waived as part of the cost-cutting measure, which allows teams a one-time chance to take a player's contract off the books for luxury-tax purposes while still paying his salary. This has flooded the free-agent pool, forcing teams to wade through amnestied types such as Michael Finley and Aaron McKie before turning to Plan B players such as Barnes.
With Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie making it clear he plans to limit the roster to 13 players and with only one spot remaining, the pending departure of guard Maurice Evans to Detroit only helps Barnes' case, as would the exodus of restricted free-agent forward Darius Songaila.
San Antonio is Barnes' priority this week, though, as his campaign trail has taken him to Texas for a Spurs workout since Monday. Neff said the Spurs and Kings remain atop the list of interest. Neff said he hasn't heard from Petrie lately, which isn't necessarily a bad indication. Asked recently about Barnes, Petrie said simply, "We'll have to wait and see how things play out."
"I don't think the Kings have backed off," Neff said. "Geoff's never been a guy that leaps at things. I know how Geoff operates. I think Matt (would be) a late addition to their lineup."
An addition who says he can knock down open jumpers as never before. The latest lesson for Barnes has been the unavoidable reality of the NBA: Scoring rules all. For all the defense, rebounding and intangibles he brings, Barnes' shooting (41.1 percent for the Kings) long has been the weak spot that made general managers nervous. So while Barnes sat fully healthy on the 76ers' injured list last season, he worked with Webber's shooting coach, Buzz Braman, removing a hitch in his shot that had been there since childhood. Since returning to Sacramento in the offseason, he has been working daily with another specialist, Guss Armstead, at BasketballTown in Rancho Cordova as well.
"I've worked for hours and hours and hours," Barnes said. "I've been shooting wrong for 23 years, so it's basically like learning how to walk again. But I've got it down now. I'm coming into my own.
"I bring a lot of intensity, versatility, rebounding, defense," Barnes continued. "It's not so much who will give me the most money, just the best opportunity. I feel like I'm a year or two away from making something happen and being set for life financially."
Let the selling continue.
I really hope to see Matt back!!!
The Del Campo High grad wants a job and is working the keypad and the hardwood toward that end.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 25, 2005
Some NBA players can job-shop without a résumé. The league's general managers know their names and their games the way they know their own payroll, with no need for sales pitches of "Here's what Ray Allen can do for you ... "
And then there are players like Matt Barnes.
For as much progress as the Del Campo High School product has made in his two seasons, and for as productive as his 43 games as a King were before he was sent to Philadelphia in the Chris Webber trade in February, the free agent still is a commodity in need of not only a job, but an explanation.
So a few weeks back, Barnes' agent, Bill Neff, sent an e-mail to every general manager in the league, hoping to educate the masses as to what his guy could bring to the floor. It was a detailed comparison of Barnes to other youthful forwards, making a convincing argument Barnes could be as valuable as those players who make so much more money.
Rebounds, assists and steals were prorated on a per-48-minutes basis, with Barnes looking every bit as productive as players like Chicago's Luol Deng, Dallas' Josh Howard or Charlotte's Gerald Wallace.
"I think people were real surprised at how high he was in those categories," Neff said. "I wanted people to understand the essence of Matt."
Below the blockbuster deals - i.e. Shaquille O'Neal's $100 million deal or Allen's for $85 million - are the negotiations that involve players still looking to secure their long-term future. Barnes merely is among the masses, with an immediate goal of becoming the next Bobby Simmons. The Milwaukee forward is the new poster boy for untapped potential, someone for young players not named LeBron to emulate.
After a short stint in the National Basketball Development League, Simmons turned in three quiet seasons with Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he and Barnes competed for the same spot. Then came Simmons' breakout season, which led to his signing a five-year, $47 million contract with Milwaukee in early August. Barnes can relate only to the tougher part of the journey, having played in the American Basketball Association and NBDL out of UCLA before signing with the Clippers in 2003.
"You look at (Simmons), and say 'My God, the guy got an opportunity for one year, and he gets $47 million,' " Neff said. "You just roll your eyes, and say, 'OK, how can I get my guy into a position to do the same?' "
The league's new amnesty rule has done little to speed up the free-agent process. Eighteen players were waived as part of the cost-cutting measure, which allows teams a one-time chance to take a player's contract off the books for luxury-tax purposes while still paying his salary. This has flooded the free-agent pool, forcing teams to wade through amnestied types such as Michael Finley and Aaron McKie before turning to Plan B players such as Barnes.
With Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie making it clear he plans to limit the roster to 13 players and with only one spot remaining, the pending departure of guard Maurice Evans to Detroit only helps Barnes' case, as would the exodus of restricted free-agent forward Darius Songaila.
San Antonio is Barnes' priority this week, though, as his campaign trail has taken him to Texas for a Spurs workout since Monday. Neff said the Spurs and Kings remain atop the list of interest. Neff said he hasn't heard from Petrie lately, which isn't necessarily a bad indication. Asked recently about Barnes, Petrie said simply, "We'll have to wait and see how things play out."
"I don't think the Kings have backed off," Neff said. "Geoff's never been a guy that leaps at things. I know how Geoff operates. I think Matt (would be) a late addition to their lineup."
An addition who says he can knock down open jumpers as never before. The latest lesson for Barnes has been the unavoidable reality of the NBA: Scoring rules all. For all the defense, rebounding and intangibles he brings, Barnes' shooting (41.1 percent for the Kings) long has been the weak spot that made general managers nervous. So while Barnes sat fully healthy on the 76ers' injured list last season, he worked with Webber's shooting coach, Buzz Braman, removing a hitch in his shot that had been there since childhood. Since returning to Sacramento in the offseason, he has been working daily with another specialist, Guss Armstead, at BasketballTown in Rancho Cordova as well.
"I've worked for hours and hours and hours," Barnes said. "I've been shooting wrong for 23 years, so it's basically like learning how to walk again. But I've got it down now. I'm coming into my own.
"I bring a lot of intensity, versatility, rebounding, defense," Barnes continued. "It's not so much who will give me the most money, just the best opportunity. I feel like I'm a year or two away from making something happen and being set for life financially."
Let the selling continue.
I really hope to see Matt back!!!
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