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Matt Barnes Wants to Re-Sign With Los Angeles Lakers

By | September 1, 2012|

The Los Angeles Lakers went through a face lift this off-season and there will be many new jerseys on the team in this upcoming season. The Lakers lost long-time center Andrew Bynum, along with role players who contributed to the team in past seasons. At this point, the team is not planning on any other major moves and additions going forward will be made to fill roster spots.

Matt Barnes played two seasons for the Lakers and fans were generally disappointed with his performance. Barnes was an excellent shooter and defender for the Orlando Magic, but for some reason he could not transfer that success to Los Angeles. As a result, the Lakers have not made a strong push to re-sign Barnes and the forward is still a free agent.

Barnes spoke to TMZ and expressed his desire to play for the new-look Lakers team.

“I’m actually a free agent right now,” Barnes said in a TMZ.com video interview. “So [the Lakers] are one of the teams we are talking to. There are a couple of other teams. Hopefully we’ll get this arrest situation out of the way so I can go ahead and move forward with my career.”

The Lakers signed Devin Ebanks this summer, a young forward who is capable of taking Barnes’ minutes. Ebanks may not be as experienced as Barnes, but with his athleticism, Ebanks may be a better fit on this roster.

In the 2011-12 season, Barnes averaged 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists in 22.9 minutes per game.

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About the author

Ramneet Singh

Ramneet is a senior writer for Lakers Nation and has been contributing his thoughts on the Lakers and the NBA since 2010. Follow Ramneet on Twitter @RamneetSingh24.

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  • WILLIAM SIMS

    PLEASE RESIGN MATT BARNES PLEASE. I LIKE WHAT ONE OF THE WRITERS TO THIS BLOG SAY “SIGN HIM TO A 1 YEAR DEAL AND MAKE HIM EARN HIS KEEP!!!!

  • WILLIAM SIMS

    PLEASE RESIGN MATT BARNES PLEASE. I LIKE WHAT ONE OF THE WRITERS TO THIS BLOG SAY “SIGN HIM TO A 1 YEAR DEAL AND MAKE HIM EARN HIS KEEP!!!!

  • Don1983

    Ramneet did you watch a dam game? Barnes was bringing it every night, while also being more productive then Ron Ron and putting up good numbers.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001478740014 Ro Fu

    he was the only one off the bench that did anything. he keeps the team tough does the dirty work. resign him i didnt see anything from ebanks that makes me think he should take barnes spot.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000528831227 William Jones

    I feel the Lakers owe Matt Barnes a chance at the ring with them, seeing as how he came to them when they really needed him and he was one of only a few who actually helped them off the bench last year. Give him a chance and resign Matt Barnes Lakers management!

  • http://www.facebook.com/de.mckayparker De Lano Mckay Parker

    Eubanks, Goudelock, and no other reserve… 
    Bring grit, toughness, or atitude to the team….
    Who can Odom, Meeks, Goudelock, or Eubanks defend…
    I like Barnes, Redd, Terrance Williams, or Jonny Flynn for the last roster spot

  • Ericsliva

    it would be wise to sign barnes
    it also would be wise to add another big guy as well
    and it would be wise to trade blake and goudelock for a better point guard
    the roster of
    howard/gasol/peace/bryant/nash
    hill/jamison/ebanks/meeks/duhon
    clark/blake/sacre and morris is good
    but they are weak defensively at point
    and they lack reliable size in the paint
    specially with howard being uncertain upon his return
    they might as well lock up the title now by adding barnes
    and getting a better point guard and a reliable bigman
    let sacre and odom-johnson go or trade them with blake and goudelock to get the other two i mentioned besides barnes and be a complete team of 15 with clark and ebanks spending time with the d-fenders and ebanks as the teams 13th man then and shoot for 73 wins

  • Crystal

    Matt “Always Hustling” Barnes. No he didn’t score 20+ points every game but he provided a spark when the Lakers needed it and always plays with heart. I say re-sign him!

  • Maryjeanmercene8

    We need barnes defence and hustle. RE SIGN MATT BARNES!!!

  • Gasan888

    I don’t understand this. Matt Barnes has a decent defense, can  score average 7 ppg, hustles good, harasser , has been with us for two years aspiring to have a ring, yet we drop him  like a hot potato. Then we get other players who are not yet battle tested.  Sign him up for one or two seasons cause he can be of use when somebody gets injured.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/2H436T3JRESNZ6NM6H2SF237SY Rjay

    Matt Barnes is getting a  bum rap from Kupchak. Come on  Kupcake this is a great utility man to be letting go. He is perfect to spell either Kobe or Metta. You  cannot blame him for bad end season when you know his entire game centers on great footwork and his ability to make surprise moves. But when his ankle is sprained and you play him that takes him completely out of his game. He puts Ebanks to shame, unless Ebanks suddenly becomes 5x better. Matt got 5.5 boards in how many minutes and almost 8 pts a game and we are holding onto Blake, Morris and Glock. Plus experience, speed and D. GET BACK MATT.  Ebanks is unlikely to  show up 1/2 as good.  

  • CalTexan

    I have no idea why Barnes is such a misunderstood player. He brings value to any team he plays on. Unfortunately he was injured at the end of both the last two seasons so a lot of Lakers “fans” think of him in those terms. So they’re gonna bank on a completely unproven Ebanks as a backup instead? That’s very dangerous if you ask me. Ebanks hasn’t proven much of anything and most of the time his defense has been terrible.

    Re-signing Matt makes a lot of sense to me if only for the fact he would be the one guy on the roster who would have played previously with both Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. Matt’s an excellent athlete and he ALWAYS plays full bore with the pedal to the metal.