Matt

Barnes

Barnes has been out with a foot injury but it sounds like he might be ready for the regular season, barring any setbacks tonight. He should have some fantasy value with the Clippers, but don’t target him until the end of standard drafts.

Barnes, scoreless Friday night in his first start, has averaged 3.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 11 games.

The artist formerly known as Ron Artest left Sunday’s game after just 18 minutes due to the injury and did not return. Matt Barnes would likely draw the start in World Peace’s play if he can’t go, and has averaged 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in 16 games in that role.

Barnes is still on the outside looking in for 12-team formats, but depending on your needs he could be worth a look in 14-team leagues.

With Metta World Peace serving his ironic suspension for throwing an unhinged elbow, the Lakers will need solid production from Barnes and Devin Ebanks.

Barnes showed some obvious rust, but gamely played through his discomfort for the short-handed Lakers, who didn’t miss a beat with Metta World Peace watching the game at home. He appears fine for the rest of the series.

Barnes’ contract is up at the end of the season and there has been some chatter about World Peace being an amnesty clause casualty, so nothing is written in stone. But if they’re both back, Bauman said that Ebanks will look elsewhere for a chance to “break into a rotation.” After starting the first four games of the season for the Lakers, Ebanks hasn’t gotten into a game since February 29.

World Peace participated in shootaround and appears ready to try to gut it out. He’s playing 30.9 minutes over the last 10 games, but averaging just 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists during that span. Matt Barnes will step in if World Peace is limited.

He also committed five turnovers and didn’t hit a 3-pointer, and has cooled off lately. He’s always worth an eye in fantasy leagues, but there are better free agents out there to target right now.

Barnes is certainly benefiting from Kobe’s absence, but he was starting to climb the charts as soon as Ramon Sessions was brought into the fold. With Kobe’s return date still a mystery, Barnes looks like a good add in 12-team formats. Metta World Peace has been worth an add for a little bit now, and posted 14 points with eight boards, five steals, three assists, and two threes in the win.