Affirmative Action says I have to give the Brent Barry Sweepstakes equal time as I did Cassell. I’m not sure what’s shocking me more: the fact that I’m actually typing a lot of words about Brent Barry in February or the fact that he won the Slam Dunk Contest. I was there as a kid, I watched it fifteen times, it still does not make sense to me. I really think he killed the contest on the low. And why is he not a hero to white people across the nation. And how come he can’t dunk anymore, I think he sold his right calf to win.
Enough about the rant. Brent Barry was involved in the Spurs stealing of Kurt Thomas from Seattle last week. Before I could even think about a ‘homecoming’ for Barry in Seattle, Sam Presti waived him. And thus this entire mess has begun. The main teams in the running: San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston and…Boston? One of these things are not like the other. Apparently, Boston is currently in dead last in the race for Barry’s services. Too bad. I’m surprised Utah didn’t call him just because he’s white and a good shooter.
(At this rate this will be the most racist post in Project history. But seriously, how did Brent Barry not slip into Utah’s hands once.)
I’m sure Coup would disagree with all things Barry, but the fact of the matter is he can shoot the crap out of the ball. On his career he’s shooting 40.7% from behind the arc. And that’s over 10+ years people. Where should he go? Everyone thought that he would just saunter back to the Spurs in 30 days…however the combination of interest from other teams AND the fact that San Antonio actually traded him could play tricks in his mind. I mean, this is how I explained it to a girl today…its like getting dumped, but your significant other says ‘I’ll call you in 30 days, we’ll probably get back together’. But then other girls (or guys) start hitting on you hardcore, throwing themselves at you like you’re 80’s Bobby Brown. How many people would really be able to wait 30 days to go back to someone who already dumped them. And that’s exactly why San Antonio probably won’t get Barry back.
San Antonio: He’d be right back where he was last year, probably a little bitter. I don’t see him going back for some reason. But it’s still a high possibility despite my bias and sweet analogies, because apparently he and his family are settled there. Like that has any sort of importance. He’d end up hitting big threes of Parker or Manu’s penetration like he always finds a way too.
Phoenix: Barry would give the Suns another deep threat, something they really need. He would only help their floor spacing an add someone not named Nash, Barbosa or Raja who can shoot the three. Also, should they not land Cassell this would be about as good of a backup plan as the Suns could get. Barry isn’t nearly the playmaker as Nash but he can run the offense and did average 5+ assists in his final three years in Seattle. That’s only relevant because he played more than 15 minutes a game and was told to do something else than stand and shoot.
Houston: Houston is on a roll and adding a shooter like Barry would do nothing but help. Depending on Rafer Alston and Luther Head to consistently hit three’s in the playoffs could be a nightmare. But then again I’m not really sure why they would sign Barry when they already have the younger version of him on the team in Steve Novak. I feel like if Houston signed him it wouldn’t work out for some reason.
If he doesn’t go back to San Antonio (this could just be all talk, who really wants to leave the Spurs) he’ll end up in Phoenix.