Most disappointing development of Spurs season has little to do with playoffs

Harrison Barnes is barely getting playing time in the postseason, and it feels like foreshadowing for the end of his tenure with the San Antonio Spurs. He's only been part of the roster for two seasons, but his impact has been tremendous. The 14-year veteran helped bring calm to the youthful exuberance permeating the locker room, and the timing of his acquisition was perfect.

Barnes has played a significant role in the Spurs' growth

HB joined the team for next to nothing, as the Kings wanted to make space for a DeMar DeRozan trade. Victor Wembanyama was in the midst of his rookie campaign and asked the front office to bring some vets to the team. Bringing in Chris Paul, along with Barnes, was the answer to that request. The two seasoned athletes brought sorely needed wisdom, and the young guys ate it up.

The former Kings forward put his best foot forward in his first season with the team. He shot a career high from three and played all 82 games, showing the inexperienced bunch what it takes to perform at a high level for six months. He deserves a ton of credit for what we're seeing this season, and he just happens to also be a great person.

Barnes deserves more appreciate than he's received

When former UNC star Harrison Barnes joined the Spurs' roster, I was a happy camper. When I was a boy, Michael Jordan was the coolest person in the world, so I developed an affinity for North Carolina basketball. I even dreamed of attending the legendary school one day. That never happened, but I don't change allegiances, so I've rooted for the team all my life.

When Barnes chose the Tar Heels as the number one prospect coming out of high school, I was thrilled. From the beginning, he conducted himself with a poise and advanced maturity that everyone respected. I hoped the Spurs would make a move to get him, solely because I was a fan of his game. Instead, he wound up with Golden State, where he won a title in 2015.

It was easy to be happy for him, but watching what happened to his career and perception right after was tough. He wasn't fantastic in the 2016 NBA Finals, but he wasn't awful either. That didn't stop the team from shipping him out for Kevin Durant. It was KD, so you understand, but NBA fans used him as a scapegoat, making the Tar Heel alumni the butt of their jokes for the next few years.

Barnes rebuilt his career after becoming an unfair scapegoat

Fast-forward to the present day, and he's carved out a strong career for himself. Lasting 14 years in the league is a huge deal, and having a career year in the 13th campaign is a credit to the work he put in. Fans hoped he would build on what he did last season, but it's gone in the other direction.

In the Spurs' 10 playoff games so far, Barnes has only reached 15 minutes twice and failed to reach 10 minutes played in four contests. Carter Bryant is expected to take a step forward next season, and the Silver and Black have a first-round pick with several intriguing prospects available in the draft to potentially take HB's spot. He's in the last year of his deal anyway.

Nothing is carved in stone, so maybe the front office can get him back on a cheap deal, but they may not even want that at this point. San Antonio will always go out of their way to ensure the players they select for this organization are good people. It's the Spurs way.

Barnes may no longer fit the Spurs' long-term timeline on the court, but his fingerprints are all over the foundation they're building. Players can't stay forever, so there will always be tough goodbyes. The writing on the wall suggests Barnes will be next.

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