Harrison Barnes Hints at Sacramento Kings Return
May 1, 2019, 6:33 AM | Updated: 6:33 am
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings released a press release last week, announcing forward Harrison Barnes’ trip to India to “promote the continued growth of basketball in the country and the upcoming NBA India Games 2019”. Sacramento will play some of their 2019-2020 preseason games in Mumbai in October.
In the press release, Barnes was quoted saying the following:
“This trip to India will be a great opportunity for me to get a sneak peek of the local culture before the upcoming preseason games in Mumbai this October. I look forward to being a part of that historic event and I’m excited to help support the NBA’s various basketball development initiatives in India.”
While not directly stating that he will be a part of the Kings’ future, Barnes certainly says enough to leave the door wide open and suggest that he expects to be with the Kings for the foreseeable future.
Barnes has a $25.1 million player option heading into next season. The Kings have been rumored to be interested in signing him to a longer-term deal for less money per season, getting him to waive that major one-year payday for a more secure future.
After being acquired by Sacramento just before the 2019 NBA trade deadline, Barnes averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot 40% from three-point range in 28 games with the Kings.
