With all eyes on Dwight Howard, Matt Barnes snuck in his free-agent news on Friday afternoon, tweeting to confirm that he'd agreed in principle to a deal with the Clippers.
RT @CP3: I'M IN!!! #CLIPPERNATION... I guess that makes two of us!! Lets get this...
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) July 5, 2013
Barnes retweeted Chris Paul's tweet from Monday, adding his own decision to return to the team as an addendum.
ESPNLosAngeles.com is reporting the deal is between $11 and $12 million over the three years.
Last season with the Clippers, Barnes was a crucial part of the team's bench, considered the best in the NBA for much of the season. In 80 games, he started just four but averaged 25.7 minutes, 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. The Clippers' decision to bring him back is hardly a surprise, but it's a wise move; with so much salary locked up on Paul and Blake Griffin, the team will need to make smart decisions about its supporting cast.
With Barnes in the fold for next season, the Clippers have nine players under contract, including Paul, their first-round pick, Reggie Bullock, and Jared Dudley and J.J. Redick, whom they acquired in a trade on Tuesday.
