During San Antonio’s recent loss to the Pelicans, Harrison Barnes was on the court for only 19 minutes, with just two rookies logging fewer minutes. As a seasoned 14-year veteran, Barnes’s limited playtime highlights the team’s ongoing challenges with integrating him effectively. In light of this, Spurs are now exploring the possibility of shifting Barnes to a bench role, following a strategy similar to the one used by the Mavericks with Klay Thompson.
Klay Thompson, long recognized as one half of the Splash Brothers alongside Steph Curry in Golden State, is celebrated as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Despite his renowned status and veteran presence, he transitioned to a bench role successfully, setting a precedent that Spurs believe Barnes might mirror.
Potential Benefits of Assigning Barnes to the Second Unit
This adjustment wouldn’t necessarily be a definitive change but rather an opportunity to revitalize Barnes’s contribution. Some fans and analysts have recommended trading Barnes, especially since he is in the final year of his contract. However, the Spurs might hesitate to trade him unless they are confident a replacement could reliably contribute both now and in the future.
Giving Barnes a bench role could help him regain form and improve performance without the pressure of starting duties. There is intrigue around experimenting with different lineups, such as a starting five featuring De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyama, and Luke Kornet. This group has only shared the floor for about five minutes total, an insufficient sample size to assess their potential chemistry or effectiveness.
Another alternative on the wings is to replace Barnes with Julian Champagnie, who has proven to be consistently impactful lately. Champagnie’s stable performance contrasts with the team’s fluctuations, and his inclusion could enhance spacing for key players like Wembanyama, Fox, and Castle. Still, Kornet remains vital due to his exceptional ability to set screens for teammates.
Luke Kornet’s Screen Assists Highlight Tactical Importance
“Most screen assists by a Spur this season:151 — Kornet[massive gap]40 — Wembanyama33 — Barnes32 — Sochan29 — ChampagnieOnly ones over 20. pic.twitter.com/ya2nrxJR9y” — SpursMuse
Kornet leads the Spurs by a significant margin with 151 screen assists, far surpassing other key players like Wembanyama and Barnes. This disparity emphasizes Kornet’s critical role in facilitating team offense, which the coaching staff must weigh when making adjustments.
Urgency for Coach Johnson to Implement Changes Before Trade Deadline
Coach Johnson faces mounting pressure to finalize Barnes’s role soon, allowing the team sufficient time to develop cohesion with new lineups before the February 5 trade deadline. While trading Barnes remains a possibility, if no suitable deal emerges, transitioning him to the bench appears to be the most feasible path forward to enhance team performance.
Making this decision swiftly is crucial, as Barnes has struggled for consistent impact throughout much of the season. Reconfiguring his role could provide the Spurs with a tactical advantage and potentially unlock better results in the coming weeks.
Most screen assists by a Spur this season:
151 — Kornet
[massive gap]
40 — Wembanyama
33 — Barnes
32 — Sochan
29 — ChampagnieOnly ones over 20. pic.twitter.com/ya2nrxJR9y
— SpursMuse (@spurs_muse) January 24, 2026
