Report: Widespread belief Celtics will trade for Harrison Barnes

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, “so many front office folks around the league believe (a Harrison Barnes trade) could be coming.”

The fact that Barnes is on the block ahead of the March 25 NBA trade deadline is not too surprising. He’s morphed into a darn-good three-and-D wing for the Kings.

The former Golden State Warriors’ top-seven pick is averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 39% shooting from distance.

He’d slide in at the three with Jayson Tatum moving to the four. Barnes’ ability to play both forward positions could loom large, too. Rumors have suggested that the Celtics are looking for that type of flexibility. It also doesn’t hurt that Barnes is playing under a team-friendly deal that will pay him just $20.18 million next season and $18.35 million in 2022-23.

How might a Harrison Barnes trade look?

Boston has a league-record $28.5 million trade exception stemming from the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets. It could simply use that exception, enticing the Kings with a young player and huge cap savings moving forward. That seems to be the most-realistic scenario.

• Celtics get: Harrison Barnes
• Kings get: Robert Williams, future second-round pick

Again, this would help Sacramento save a nice amount of cash moving forward — enabling it to be active in free agency over the next couple summers. Said savings would amount to $34-plus million over the next two seasons.

However, there’s another scenario in play that suggests the Kings will look for real assets while Boston saves the above-mentioned trade exception for the summer.

Harrison Barnes-to-Celtics trade scenario

• Kings get: Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Jeff Teague, future second-round pick
• Celtics get: Harrison Barnes

Any rumors involving a deal that doesn’t include the trade exception would likely force them to move off defensive stalwart Marcus Smart. It’s the name of the game with these Celtics hard-capped.

As for the Kings, they could turn around and flip Smart to a contending team for a first-round pick. Acquiring a first-rounder, second-rounder and young big in Grant Williams would be a coup.

Either way, this is certainly something to keep an eye on with the 2021 NBA trade deadline now about two weeks away. The Celtics are going to be active. Will that include making a move for Barnes?