NBA Notes: Kings, Harrison Barnes, Wizards, Spurs

Kings

Kings forward Harrison Barnes said he’s no stranger to trade rumors, regularly checking the NBA’s top insiders for news.

“You know how the NBA is,” Barnes said, via Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “I check (ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski). I check (The Athletic’s Shams Charania). They’ve still got me here, so as far as I’m concerned, this is where I’m supposed to be and I’m going to give it my best effort.”

Barnes has been the subject of multiple trade rumors over the past few years, but as he relayed, he remains with Sacramento, anyway.

• In the event you weren’t aware, the Kings have the longest playoff drought in professional sports, as relayed by Leo Tochterman of SB Nation. They last made the playoffs in 2006, prior to the invention of the iPhone.

Wizards

The Wizards dropped both scrimmage games against the defending champion Warriors in Japan, though there’s no reason for concern. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Washington is still coming together.

“Overall I think we’re in a pretty good spot as far as fast-tracking some of the areas of concern from last year,” Unseld said, via Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “Defensively, I think we’re in a better spot with the hand activity, causing deflections. I think our ball movement has improved. We still struggle to make shots, and I think that’s just a rhythm thing. But we’re creating some good looks. So all-in-all, I think it’s been a solid week and a half.”

• Monte Morris may have the inside track as the Wizards’ starting point guard, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Morris was acquired in a trade with the Nuggets over the summer.

Spurs

Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson are welcoming their roles as veteran leaders on a Spurs team with six rookies, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

“There is something to be said that we are still here and kind of leading the locker room,” McDermott said, via McDonald. “It’s a blessing honestly that they value me and Josh and Jakob (Poeltl) to be those guys. Because we don’t have any egos and want to see those guys thrive just as much as they do.”