Magic to sign Barnes, bolster bench
In an aggressive summer of spending, the Orlando Magic have agreed with Matt Barnes(notes) on a two-year, $3.2 million contract, a league source said Monday night.
Barnes, 29, gives Orlando a versatile forward on its reshaped bench. He leaves the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 10 points and 5.5 rebounds a season ago. The deal includes a player option of $1.6 million in 2010-11, the source said. Barnes will sign the agreement on Tuesday.
Orlando made a trade with New Jersey for Vince Carter(notes) and Ryan Anderson(notes), signed free agent Brandon Bass(notes) to an $18 million deal and surprised most of the league by matching a $34 million offer sheet for center Marcin Gortat(notes). The Magic, who last season reached the NBA Finals – where they lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers – have been engaged in an Eastern Conference arms race with Boston and Cleveland this summer.
