Photo Credit: Matt Barnes Instagram
The Sacramento Kings traded their franchise player and are cleaning house to commence the tank. In order to make room on the roster for the players they acquired in the trade, the Kings plan to waive veteran forward Matt Barnes.
Sources told ESPN that the Kings are expected to release Barnes later Monday because they need an extra roster spot so that they can take in the three players they’re acquiring from the Pelicans in the Cousins deal: Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway.
Barnes is averaging 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season. His future with the Kings has been considered tenuous since his involvement in an altercation at a Manhattan nightclub after a loss by the Kings in New York in December. Like Cousins, Barnes is also known for his hot temper and acting out physically. Since 2011, he’s racked up nearly $400,000 in fines.
As a result of the altercation in New York, Barnes faces misdemeanor assault charges and a civil suit has been filed against him and Cousins in a New York District Court. Cousins will not face charges after an NYPD investigation that concluded last week.
Barnes, who grew up in Sacramento, was in the first year of a two-year deal worth $12.5 million and is known to be a favorite of Kings coach Dave Joerger after their time together in Memphis.
