[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

Barnes returning to the Warriors

Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, August 6, 2007


Months after his "Believe" tattoo became intertwined with the Warriors' playoff slogan, Matt Barnes is believing in himself again. Faced with an increasingly stingy free-agent market, Barnes is returning to Oakland on a one-year contract with hopes of scoring a bigger payday next summer.

The two sides agreed to terms, according to agent Aaron Goodwin, and Barnes is expected to officially re-sign today. League sources said Barnes will make $3.5 million, the remainder of the Warriors' mid-level exception.

Thus ends a frustrating summer for Barnes, who originally sought a long-term contract starting at the mid-level exception of $5.36 million after his breakout year under coach Don Nelson.

Barnes averaged career-highs across the board and was critical to the Golden State's postseason run with 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30 minutes a game. But teams were reluctant to commit so much money to a player who earned the league minimum last year and has been on five teams in four seasons.

Barnes also went through three agents while seeking his new deal, firing Bill Neff during the playoffs, signing with Dan Fegan, then dropping Fegan in favor of Goodwin two weeks ago.

The Warriors remained Barnes' preferred destination through it all, and rather than sign a multi-year deal also offered by the club, Barnes will try to increase his stock before re-entering the market in a year.

"In the end, it probably made more sense for Matt to show not only the Warriors, but the NBA, that he's a serious player," Goodwin said. "Given the opportunity, which he was last year, he can play in this league for a number of years to come."

Barnes' return essentially makes the Warriors nonplayers in free agency. Though the team still has a one-year qualifying offer of $3.5 million out to Mickael Pietrus, the Warriors have now used up all of their midlevel exception between Barnes and center Kosta Perovic, who can make up to $1.8 million next season.

Golden State still has its bi-annual exception of $1.8 million left, but any other additions outside of league-minimum contracts will have to come via trade. If Pietrus returns, the Warriors would have 16 players under guaranteed contracts and be forced to cut one before the season starts.

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