MVN - Most Valuable Network

Weighing in on Barry

Where will Bones go?

First we heard that he would announce his decision on Tuesday, but Tuesday came and went without any news. Then we heard that he would announce on Wednesday. Now it is Thursday and Brent Barry still has not made a decision.

However, we know that he will end up in either Phoenix or San Antonio.

The draw of each team is apparent. Phoenix desires another three-point shooter and plays a wide open style that Barry could thrive in. He was never a great defender, so that wouldn’t be an issue. He would come in to provide another playmaker and shooter. San Antonio can provide familiarity. Barry already knows the offensive and defensive sets, the players and the community. There would not be a transition period like in Phoenix.

So what should he do?

Phoenix can provide more playing time and opportunity to score, so if that’s what he wants he should sign with the Suns. The Spurs, however, are better suited to win another championship. They’ve done it three of the past five years, eliminating the Suns twice in the process. So he should return to San Antonio if he thinks the Spurs have a better shot at a title, like I do.

San Antonio really makes the most sense. He does not have to learn anything new but can heal and return seamlessly to the Spurs lineup. His family is also in San Antonio and like most Spurs’ families, involved in the community. Don’t underestimate the power of his family. It is also important to consider his calf injuries. He won’t be able to play for another week at least, so there is no real harm in waiting to sign with the Spurs. Even if he could play in a week, he would still need some time to find his shot. Signing with San Antonio gives him three weeks to recover and come back at 100%.

The longer he waits, the better it is for the Spurs. Phoenix is rumored to have interest in Gordan Giricek if he is waived by Philadelphia. If Giricek is waived within the next couple days, it forces the Suns to decide if they want to wait on Barry and risk the chance of signing neither player. If Barry still has not announced a decision by the end of the weekend, I would bet that he will sign with San Antonio. Just a gut feeling.

Ultimately, I don’t think his decision will swing the West to Phoenix or San Antonio. Barry is a nice player but not one that will decide the West. If he decides to sign with the Suns, all Spurs fans should be thankful for his contributions to the team and the community and then wish him luck. Barry, by all accounts, is a respectable man and never shamed the organization in any way.

Oh ya, the other thing the Spurs lose if Barry signs with Phoenix, other than three-point shooting, are his hilarious commercials with HEB. Here are a few for your enjoyment.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 at 11:32 am and is filed under San Antonio Spurs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.