Following four years with the Warriors in a complementary role on a stacked roster, Barnes finally got a taste of the limelight in his first year with Dallas. He immediately jumped into the Mavericks rotation as their go-to player after signing a max four-year, $94 million contract in the offseason. While his averages of 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 three-pointer all remained relatively similar to his last few years with the Warriors, it was his scoring that took a huge jump, which was always expected with a move to a much less talented roster. He commanded the ball more than any other player and averaged a career-high 19.2 points, up from the 11.7 points he averaged a year prior. He shot 46.8 percent from the field and did see his three-point shooting fall to 35.1 percent, though that didn't hurt him much considering his usage skyrocketed. That shouldn't change much heading into the 2017-18 campaign. While the Mavericks added the electric point guard Dennis Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, that may actually help Barnes' numbers, rather than hurt them. Barnes was often swarmed by defenses to force him to give the ball up, so with more attention potentially being diverted to Smith, Barnes could get more open looks. Dirk Nowitzki is also nearing 40 years old and will likely continue to have his workload scaled back, opening a few extra looks here and there. With all that said, Barnes numbers will likely remain relatively similar to a season ago, as he'll remain the Mavericks' top option on offense while spending time at both small forward and power forward.

Barnes' struggles in the NBA Finals overshadowed what was otherwise a productive season in a complementary role for the Warriors. While often serving as the team's fourth option offensively, Barnes averaged a career-high 11.7 points to go with 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. The production earned him a massive payday in the form of a four-year, $94 million deal from the Mavericks, who will count on Barnes to step into a larger role as he enters his age-24 season. Whether the U.S. Olympic gold medalist is up to the task remains to be seen. Barnes flourished as a role player in Golden State, but it's fair to question how much he benefited from playing alongside Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and a certain two-time MVP. In Dallas, Barnes won't necessarily be asked to be the No. 1 option, but he's arguably the highest-upside player on a team that will lean heavily on veterans Deron Williams, Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews. After approaching 31 minutes per game last season, Barnes' playing time may not creep much higher, but he expects to see more opportunities as a shooter and one-on-one playmaker, which should translate to a noticeable increase in his per-game scoring.

Barnes went from an up-and-coming rookie wing player in the NBA to an unconfident and tentative mess after his sophomore season. What happened? For one, he went from being a starter to a reserve. Former head coach Mark Jackson put the weight of the second unit on his shoulders, asking him to be the primary scorer. His PER dropped to 9.85 during his sophomore season, making him a top priority of the new head coach Steve Kerr, who theorized Barnes wasn't used properly in the previous coaching regime's system. Kerr's motion offense benefitted no player more than Barnes, who was given the starting small forward job over Andre Iguodala in training camp. No longer being asked to create off the dribble, the ball eventually found Barnes, leading to career-highs in three-point (40 percent) and two-point shooting (51 percent). He averaged 10.1 points along with 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 28 minutes per game, while starting all 82. This is a critical year for Barnes. He's on the final year of his rookie deal. The Warriors would like to retain him, but they've just shelled out big dough for Draymond Green, one year after showering Klay Thompson with riches. And the Stephen Curry payday is coming. They may hold off until he becomes a restricted free agent next summer to see what the market price for Barnes becomes.

Barnes had a disappointing sophomore season, failing to make a developmental leap generally seen in high draft picks between seasons one and two. In 78 games, he averaged 9.5 points on 40-percent shooting with 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 28 minutes per game. After the All-Star break, he shot just 36 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point distance. The Warriors envisioned the athletic wing becoming the team's premier scorer off the bench, but Barnes never delivered in that role. He's often deferential on the court, passing up shots or not driving to the basket enough. It might be a confidence issue. It would help if Barnes can develop a better handle. That might give him the confidence to take the ball to the hole more willingly. New head coach Steve Kerr believes Barnes can thrive with better spacing. Barnes will be project number one for assistant coach Alvin Gentry, known primarily for his offensive mind. So, while Barnes' regression from year one to two is off-putting, the change that comes with new voices calling the shots creates hope that Barnes can develop consistency, confidence, and a drive to get better. Look for him to play primarily off the bench, backing up Andre Iguodala at small forward.

Barnes' rookie season was a mixed bag, but he hinted at being an exciting wing player capable of carrying a scoring load and creating a shot for himself. Those hints didn't sustain over long stretches, and he was often the deferential rookie, letting the veterans take charge. He was good in the postseason and appeared destined for a larger role this coming season – until the Warriors swung a deal for Andre Iguodala, who is expected to start at Barnes' small forward spot. That means Barnes will play a support role on the wing, and the development in year two we expected might be delayed. Barnes will be part of the rotation and will be part of smaller lineups.

Barnes will be in the mix for the starting small forward spot. He has ideal size at the three and his mobility/wingspan is suited to defending. Offensively, he has a mid-range game and can create space for himself, but mediocre ball-handling/dribbling limit his ability to get to the rim and create shots. He’s a good rebounder at the three, but he may not get starters’ minutes right away.