New Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes reportedly wanted to keep playing even after he was informed of the trade shipping him out of the Dallas Mavericks, according to his agent Jeff Schwartz.
Barnes was forced to sit out the fourth quarter, as it could often take place when two franchises consummate an agreement for a player, but Schwartz told former player and ESPN analyst Paul Pierce (via Sopan Deb) that his client wanted to keep on playing.
The reason to sitting him out is to minimize risk, as every second he is on the court he could risk injury — whether major or minor — that could dissolve the trade in place.
The Mavs had every reason to protect Barnes and get him ready to join his new team, while Barnes as a competitor likely wanted those last 12 minutes of joy next to his teammates, who pulled off a 99-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Barnes sunk his last shot from the perimeter late in the third quarter and finished his last game in Dallas with 10 points and three rebounds.
The North Carolina product is owed $24.1 million this season and $25.1 million the next, as part of a four-year, $94.4 million contract he signed with the Mavs in 2016. Barnes is averaging 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds this season.
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