The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks: Three Harrison Barnes trade ideas before deadline

By Kohl Rast

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 9: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on January 9, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 9: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on January 9, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 16: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on December 16, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 16: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on December 16, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Harrison Barnes joins the young Kings

Let’s start this with the fact that Harrison Barnes to Sacramento rumors have been floating around for weeks. The Kings would love to get a wing that has scoring potential and is a solid, long defender like Barnes. They have a lot of cap space and they are not considered a prime destination for free agents by any means.

That cap space would get hampered by a trade that included Barnes, who is due for a $25 million payday next season, easily the biggest contract in Sacramento. However, even if they did add Barnes to their salary, they would still have almost $40 million available in cap space. That is more than enough to do what they need to do for this summer.

It would also get Sacramento out of the restricted free agency for Willie Cauley-Stein, something they may be interested in especially considering the play of Marvin Bagley III so far this year. They would also get off the expiring contract of Zach Randolph, something not necessary but helps make the money work for an essentially useless contract.

This trade serves the purpose for the Mavs of clearing up some money for the summer. It is kind of a lame way for a great guy and a great player to be traded in Harrison Barnes, but his style of play is not in line with the direction the Mavs want/need to go in the upcoming years. He is likely to opt-in to his final year, tying up most of the cap space for Dallas if he stays on the team.

Cauley-Stein would be a pretty good consolation prize for the team. He is on the last year of his deal and will become a restricted free agent this summer, something the Mavs could toy with or let him walk if they don’t like the fit. Either way, it gives the Mavs a chance to choose their own destiny.