The temptation to overpay Harrison Barnes on a new extension is very real, especially for a Golden State Warriors team that deeply values continuity.
But giving in to temptation, to the allure of a championship status quo at any cost, would be a mistake—one that would ignore an equally important mandate of this Warriors regime: Pay players less than their market rates whenever possible.
The competing concerns of continuity and stinginess collide in the Warriors' dealings with Barnes, who will hit restricted free agency next summer if he doesn't sign a rookie extension before the end of October.
Golden State justifiably wants to keep its core intact, because there's a demonstrated value in growing a team over multiple seasons together. Players learn about each other, develop trust—you know, psychological stuff.
Or, as ESPN.com's Amin Elhassan describes it, culinary stuff:
In today's NBA, perhaps the most valuable commodity is continuity. Identity and culture can't happen if they aren't given a chance to develop organically and sustained. I often use the analogy of baking a cake, where yo ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Grant Hughes
Golden State Warriors Smart to Be Shrewd in Harrison Barnes Extension Talks
September 28th, 2015 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
Advertisement