A closer look at Harrison Barnes

[KIrving15]

One small forward who may not be available for the Warriors is Harrison Barnes, whom the Cavs are "very high on," says Sam Amick of SI.com.

 

[cinnister]

Anyone else think the barnes stuff is a smokescreen? Or maybe an attempt to coax MJ into being, well... MJ?

 

[KCOTT]

I don't want to draft Sefalosha as the 4th pick in this draft.

 

[MYoung23]

I would be very happy with Barnes.


A strong perimeter defender is a must. Not to mention he can score and would really stretch the defense with his long range ability.


Sign me up. I think he compares to Paul Pierce.

 

[mhi]

Second, defense is not all about steals. Some of the best defenders don't get a lot of steals. Steals could just mean you gamble a lot.

Luol Deng, who many people compare Barnes to, averages one steal per game over his career. Deng is a great defender. Bruce Bowen? Career 0.8 steals per game. Afflalo, about 0.6 since he's been a starter. Sefalosha ~1.2 on the Thunder.

Ok lets say I concede the Deng comparisons. For one I don't think Barnes will ever be nearly as good a rebounder. And Deng just now became an all star(reserve) after 8yrs in the league.

Do you really want that with the #4 pick ?

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I think he compares to Paul Pierce.

 

[TrueCavsFan2]

He compares more to a Rudy Gay/Danny Granger/Luol Deng type of player.

If he shot more consistent (because we know he can hit the 3), dribbled better with his left hand and tried to get fouled more, we'd be in love with him. That's something he can improve. I think Byron Scott will be a big + for Barnes as well as Kyrie. They were friends out of high school and I think they would play together really well.

 

[narbar32]

Oh man, all these "thanks" are burning a hole in my pocket.

Anyways, hate to say it, but the notion of the Barnes interest being a smokescreen is a desperate man's last hope. For me, personally, he's the player in this draft that I want least on the Cavs. Neither reason nor stats could change my mind; I just hate the player. It's on the level of a Brady Quinn at ND, Jared Dudley while at BC, John Starks always, etc... I don't know what it is about some players, but sometimes all I can think about when I see their faces is those faces getting punched.

But I'm now preemptively working as hard as I can on changing that, because I'm beginning to believe it's a foregone conclusion that we're drafting the kid. The only smoke I see is the evidence of an actual fire.

 

[MRMsix6]

Oh man, all these "thanks" are burning a hole in my pocket.

Anyways, hate to say it, but the notion of the Barnes interest being a smokescreen is a desperate man's last hope. For me, personally, he's the player in this draft that I want least on the Cavs. Neither reason nor stats could change my mind; I just hate the player. It's on the level of a Brady Quinn at ND, Jared Dudley while at BC, John Starks always, etc... I don't know what it is about some players, but sometimes all I can think about when I see their faces is those faces getting punched.

But I'm now preemptively working as hard as I can on changing that, because I'm beginning to believe it's a foregone conclusion that we're drafting the kid. The only smoke I see is the evidence of an actual fire.

You really think the Cavs would leak who they're going to pick before the combine or even conducting interviews? I remember hearing similar things about JV last year, and that was much closer to the actual draft.

 

[Pioneer10]

Oh man, all these "thanks" are burning a hole in my pocket.

Anyways, hate to say it, but the notion of the Barnes interest being a smokescreen is a desperate man's last hope. For me, personally, he's the player in this draft that I want least on the Cavs. Neither reason nor stats could change my mind; I just hate the player. It's on the level of a Brady Quinn at ND, Jared Dudley while at BC, John Starks always, etc... I don't know what it is about some players, but sometimes all I can think about when I see their faces is those faces getting punched.

But I'm now preemptively working as hard as I can on changing that, because I'm beginning to believe it's a foregone conclusion that we're drafting the kid. The only smoke I see is the evidence of an actual fire.

 

[wuck]

From Chad Ford:

SF's NOT doing #NBACombine drills : Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes

 

[narbar32]

You really think the Cavs would leak who they're going to pick before the combine or even conducting interviews? I remember hearing similar things about JV last year, and that was much closer to the actual draft.

I wouldn't call it "leaked" information. Obviously a lot of outside observers believe that the Cavs had a lot of interest in Barnes last year and it appears that the interest has carried over to this year. Could it be that they've cooled on him but the outsiders are just using old intel to pretend they have the scoop for this year? Sure. But their continued interest in him would make sense and it seems to be presented as pretty common knowledge among the "experts."

Mainly, however, I just think the smokescreen concept in general is far more a part of fans' vernacular than it is for actual front offices. It's simply brought up every single time a team shows interest in a prospect who fans don't like. It seems to me that, more often than not, where there's smoke there's fire when we get to peak a bit behind the veil after all is said and done in any particular draft. So no, I don't think they're going out of their way to feign interest in a guy they're not high on, nor spending time with him as subterfuge, nor do I think other front offices have Hoopshype on refresh trying to piece through these alleged smokescreens, as I'm sure they have their own sources and conversations that give them info about other teams and prospects far before we even get to sniff it.

 

[Douglar]

Jim (Cleveland) Does Harrison Barnes make most sense at #4 for Cleveland and if so, what's his ceiling? I feel like he is vastly overrated.

John Hollinger (12:42 PM) I share your concern; I think he's a wing jump shooter with size, but I don't think he has great instincts as a scorer or finisher. There are other 3s I like better, particularly Quincy Miller; I think everybody is completely sleeping on that kid.

Ben (Minneapolis) Harrison Barnes reminds me of Rashard Lewis. Fair?

John Hollinger (12:44 PM) More like Martell Webster to me.

 

[Triumph36]

i have been touting q miller for months (not at 4 tho, obv)

whattup hollinger

 

[CardiacCavs]

Jim (Cleveland) Does Harrison Barnes make most sense at #4 for Cleveland and if so, what's his ceiling? I feel like he is vastly overrated.

John Hollinger (12:42 PM) I share your concern; I think he's a wing jump shooter with size, but I don't think he has great instincts as a scorer or finisher. There are other 3s I like better, particularly Quincy Miller; I think everybody is completely sleeping on that kid.

Ben (Minneapolis) Harrison Barnes reminds me of Rashard Lewis. Fair?

John Hollinger (12:44 PM) More like Martell Webster to me.