The UBU leading scorer has had a busy off-season, but he isn’t done just yet.
Point guard Tim Barnes from Löwen BC Hamburg will attempt to impress NBA teams this summer, and that road starts for him in Los Angeles. The 2022 Universal Basketball Union Most Valuable Player will work out for the Clippers, as confirmed by his agent and coaching staff.
The fourth-year pro averaged 29.4 points and 5.5 assists per game on .453/.471/.884 shooting splits during the 2021-22 season. Barnes made waves when he joined Löwen midway through season play and led them to the playoffs after losing a key player from the year prior. Barnes made the league’s First Team in 2022, in addition to being named Guard of the Year and an All-Star to cap off his season.
Despite all the production and recognition he has earned this season in Germany, he currently is completely off the grid for most NBA franchises. In a league that houses the best players in the world, the former Beloit College guard is trying his luck against the elite. Exact date and location are unknown, but the meeting between the two will take place after the June 23rd NBA draft.
According to Forbes, the Clippers are no. 6 on the list of most profitable franchises in the league, with a value of $3.3 billion. Being in a high market city like Los Angeles isn’t an easy task for any professional team, especially when your rival has the historic prestige that the Lakers possess. After a 42-40 record this past season, President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and his team will be looking to shake things up in order to bring some excitement of their own to LA. From a business perspective, it wouldn’t be surprising if talks with Barnes progress into a training camp deal. He is relatively unknown in America, and the intrigue of a potential star could be enough to have curious fans filling up seats next season.