3 Potential Wing Candidates Clippers Could Pursue In Buyout Market

Matt Barnes

The DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans heist ended the Matt Barnes era in Sacramento.

Vlade Divac announced on Monday immediately following Sunday night’s All-Star Game that the 14-year California native would be waived to make space for the incoming acquisitions.

Matt Barnes, who signed a 2-year $12.5 million deal with the Kings after failing to re-connect with his former coach Doc Rivers, was averaging 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

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On paper, this deal looks like it makes sense for both parties. Barnes is a gritty  and still more than capable defender. Barnes has the ability to shoot from beyond the arc and is one of the more underrated passing and rebounding guys at his size.

The biggest factor that Barnes would bring to this team however, doesn’t show up on a stat sheet.

His attitude and locker room presence are precisely what this team could use.

The current Clippers players love Matt Barnes. He brings a real element of toughness and plays with a lot of heart. He’s a vocal player. He is a guy who’ll get in your face if the energy and effort are lacking, and if you’ve watched the Clippers play all season, that’s been somewhat of a problem.

Its safe to say the Wesley Johnson over Matt Barnes decision that Clippers management made over the summer was a mistake, with Johnson only averaging 12.0 minutes per game to go with a handful of DNP’s.