Harrison Barnes expects role to change with Mavericks
Harrison Barnes knows his role will change this season. He’s just not sure how much.
Last year with the Golden State Warriors, Barnes was the team’s fourth leading scorer behind Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Basically, he was sitting — behind three All-Stars — in a pressure-less spot.
After signing a four-year, $94 million free agent contract with the Dallas Mavericks this past July, Barnes knows the pressure will be on him to live up to that massive contract. But the 6-foot-8 small forward is ready for the challenge.
I’m looking forward to it a lot. But the things that I’ve learned and what coach Carlisle and some other coaches have made me realize is it’s about adding to what you already do.”
Harrison Barnes
“We’re excited to have him,” coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday night at American Airlines Center during a break at the Mavs 16th annual NBA 101. “He’s a 24-year old player with four years of NBA experience that we think has a chance to get a lot better, and that’s exciting.”
It’s exciting for Barnes, too, about the possibilities of being able to expand his game with a new franchise.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” said Barnes, who won an NBA title with the Warriors in 2015. “But the things that I’ve learned and what coach Carlisle and some other coaches have made me realize is it’s about adding to what you already do.
“You can’t say, ‘Oh, you’re going to have a bigger role, now you’re going to be an isolated player or you’re going to be a ball stopper.’ You still need to cut, you still need to be active, we still need you to rebound, we still need you to play multiple positions.”
In essence, the Mavs are banking on Barnes to take his game to a higher level. Maybe to the point where he’ll one day unseat Dirk Nowitzki as the team’s go-to player.
Forward Justin Anderson is eager for training camp to start so he can get on the same page with Barnes, whom he has known for many years.
“It’s huge that he’s a guy that’s a young guy and I played against him in AAU when we were younger,” said Anderson, who was a rookie last season. “It’s pretty cool for it to be someone we’re bringing in as a leader for us, and someone that I know.
Carlisle noted the circumstances Barnes left in Golden State — where he was the No. 4 scorer — is in no way similar to what he’s facing with the Mavs.
“We’re a different situation,” Carlisle said. “We’re working hard in ways for him to be more of a primary producer, but it’s not going to happen overnight.
“It’s going to be a process. And he’s in it for the long haul and so are we.”
Now about that contract.
“I don’t feel any pressure with that,” Barnes said. “I’m looking forward to giving Dallas my all every single night and putting us in a good position, hopefully, in the postseason.”
Dwain Price: 817-390-7760, @dwainprice
This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 9:29 PM with the headline "Harrison Barnes expects role to change with Mavericks."