The San Antonio Spurs have two players who both made over $10 million this season, poised to hit free agency: Kelly Olynyk and Harrison Barnes.
In the 2024-25 season, Barnes was a constant starter, appearing in all 82 games for the Spurs. This past season, he saw his role decrease, eventually being relegated to the bench.
Still, he shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range, and has a championship pedigree. It’s expected that the Spurs will make him a reasonable offer this summer, he’ll take a pay cut, and end up back in San Antonio.
However, the Spurs might not be the only team looking to sign the veteran forward.
Charlotte Hornets Listed As Harrison Barnes’ Landing Spot
When the Spurs landed Barnes in the 2024 offseason, he was just a salary dump from the Sacramento Kings, who were looking to make room to sign DeMar DeRozan. The Spurs were well aware that Barnes and Chris Paul would bring valuable mentorship, and he ended up exceeding expectations.
Not bad, and the Spurs got a future first-round pick for taking on his contract!
As his contract ends, another young team sees the value Barnes brought the Spurs and might want some of that for themselves: the Charlotte Hornets.
“The Charlotte Hornets don’t have much money to spend in free agency, but they do have some exceptions that will allow them to add some mid-level free agents,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Zach Roberts. “Could Harrison Barnes be of interest? The longtime veteran is set to hit unrestricted free agency off an NBA Finals appearance, and while he’s not the most impactful player anymore, he’d still be a worthwhile addition.”
When the Spurs added Barnes, they needed a consummate veteran to lend Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle a hand. The Hornets, led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, could certainly use some mentorship and guidance.
Does Barnes want to end his career as a mentor on a bad team, or does he want to chase titles? If the former, then by all means, go to the Hornets. But if he wants to win another ring, staying on the Spurs makes the most sense, even if it means taking a pay cut.
If Barnes heads to Charlotte, it will cement his status as a mentor and locker room leader, not as a winning player. If he remains in San Antonio and gets the Spurs over the top, then he can be remembered as both.
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