NBA Trade Rumors: Sacramento Kings eyeing Harrison Barnes

NBA Trade Rumors: In an attempt to make a real push for the playoffs, the Sacramento Kings covet Harrison Barnes as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches

The NBA Trade Deadline is quickly approaching and there are expected to be a number of teams actively searching for a deal to be had in the coming weeks. One of those teams happens to be the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings happen to be one of the biggest surprises in the league this season, and are genuinely in the playoff hunt as the second half of the year gets underway. There’s one player that the Kings are eyeing in an attempt to get this team surging up the standings over the last 40 games of the season.

And that player is Harrison Barnes, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast.

There hasn’t been much talk about whether the Mavs would move Barnes, who has a $25 million player option for next season, but I don’t think it’s a slam dunk that he re-signs with Dallas if he hits the open market this – or next – summer.

Barnes is having a solid season this year, averaging 18 points, four rebounds and 40 percent from 3-point range. And he could fill a void that is at the small forward position of the Kings’ lineup. They are currently playing players out of position to fill that void, and Barnes would fit the bill (if they could find a workable trade).

Another interesting aspect of this report is the fact that this suggests that the the Kings are buyers heading into the NBA Trade Deadlines, which is less than a month away. A little past the midway point of the season, Sacramento is 23-21 and just one game back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Making a move for Barnes could be enough to give this team the second half punch that they may be seeking for a real shot at breaking through and making a return to the playoffs. The big question here, though, is whether or not the Mavs would move him.