Veteran leadership faces a crossroads. Will Harrison Barnes' experience remain with the young Spurs, or will a new destination beckon in 2026?
As the 2025-26 season pushes toward its final stretch, the Spurs are not just focused on winning games — they’re also managing the roster picture that will carry into next summer.
According to Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey's list of the biggest 2026 free-agency flight risks, San Antonio’s most notable potential departure isn’t a young star, but veteran forward Harrison Barnes — a player whose future could become one of the more interesting storylines for Spurs fans during the offseason.
"The San Antonio Spurs may not need Harrison Barnes going forward. They're absolutely loaded with younger talent at seemingly every position," Bailey writes. "But they also, almost certainly, wouldn't be thrilled to lose him. The 33-year-old forward has a championship and well over a decade of NBA experience. There's still plenty of wisdom for him to impart. And he can help on the floor too."
At 33 years old and with over a decade of NBA experience under his belt, Barnes brings valuable stability to a Spurs squad that has leaned heavily on youth and development.
San Antonio’s current roster is loaded with promising young talent at nearly every position, led by the likes of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. In that context, Barnes might not be considered part of the long-term core — but his presence still carries meaningful on-court and locker-room value.
One of the key reasons Barnes winds up labeled as the Spurs’ biggest flight risk is his unrestricted free-agent status. Unlike some younger players with team or early-Bird rights, there are fewer contractual levers San Antonio can use to retain him if another suitor comes with a compelling offer. That doesn’t necessarily mean team and player are headed for a split — but it does open the door for other clubs to bid for his services if they value his veteran shooting and experience.
This season Barnes is averaging 10 points on 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from three, which is his calling card. Last season he shot a crazy impressive 43 percent from beyond the arc, which is always a good thing to have around a dominant big like Wemby.
Losing Barnes wouldn’t be devastating from a talent standpoint, especially given San Antonio’s youth movement and the way the roster is constructed around long-term assets and cap flexibility. But there’s no doubting that his experience, professionalism, and shooting ability have been valuable in the Spurs' rise this season.