One would think the team that shelled out a $94-million max contract to Harrison Barnes would have outsize demands on him, but the Dallas Mavericks are seemingly being guarded in their expectations for the well-compensated 24-year-old swingman.
Barnes spent the first four years of his career with the Golden State Warriors, and, as such, has grown used to being a role player; a little-things guy. The Mavs expect him to take on a more prominent role with their club, but they won't force it on him right away.
"He is a team player who focuses on the role he was asked to play," owner Mark Cuban told reporters during training camp. "His role will be much bigger with us. I don't expect him to be featured day one. But I do expect it to grow through the season."
Barnes, for his part, sees things much the same way.
"There's going to be bigger expectations and I'll have a larger role on this team, but the biggest thing I've learned in my four years I’ve been in the league is that winning is the biggest priority," he said. "I'll do everything I can to help this team win."
That's not to say the expectations won't be there. The Mavs bet big on a guy who's never averaged more than 11.7 points per game or posted an above-average PER. They bet on Barnes' ability to grow into a new role, with more responsibility.
"I talked to him this summer a lot about that," said head coach Rick Carlisle. "The bottom line is it's a challenge that he's got to love taking on.
"The important thing is an elevation in responsibility comes at the right rate. You don't just get a guy like this and throw him out there and tell him he's got to score 20 a night. ... We'll get it to him in what I feel will be the correct doses and we'll go from there."
