Free agents Harrison Barnes, Trey Lyles discuss their desire to stay with Sacramento Kings

The Kings have some big free agent decisions to make this summer after making their first playoff appearance since 2006. Two of the biggest involve veteran forwards Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles.

Barnes and Lyles addressed their uncertain futures when they met with the media for exit interviews Monday, a day after their season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Both players expressed a desire to stay in Sacramento, saying they want to continue to build on what the Kings accomplished this season.

“Returning is honestly my No. 1 priority,” Lyles said. “The fellowship, the relationships I’ve been able to create with these guys, has been above and beyond anything I’ve had in the past. … This is the most at home I’ve felt, so it’s definitely something I want to continue to be a part of.”

Barnes expressed similar sentiments when asked about returning for a sixth season with the Kings.

“I have equity in Sacramento, just being through a lot of the long seasons,” Barnes said. “To finally be on the other side of that to have a collective experience, obviously we didn’t advance to the second round, but we were knocking at the door to really taking off as a team. I feel like that would have been great, and we’ve all been around. We know it’s a business and a lot of things happen, but to continue on with this group, I think that would be a special thing.”

Barnes, 30, is an 11-year NBA veteran who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. He has appeared in 317 games over five seasons with the Kings since coming to Sacramento in a February 2018 trade with the Dallas Mavericks. Barnes endured some difficult years in Sacramento before experiencing what he called a “breakthrough” season with the Kings.

“It’s a great city,” Barnes said. “I think to come to this team at a point where we’re trying to build something, and there’s a lot of instability and a lot of ups and downs, and to get to where we are now, where it’s the complete opposite — there is stability, there’s a lot of fun, a lot of winning, great atmosphere, super rewarding for the fans — it’s great and I think there’s a lot of good basketball left to be played collectively as an organization. So, you never know what the future may hold, but I’m proud of where we are.”

Barnes said he is going into the summer with the assumption that he will be back next season.

“I’m proceeding as everything’s on the up and up,” Barnes said. “Obviously, great relationship with the guys, long relationship with the organization, so the focus is on that and building for next year until I hear otherwise.”

Barnes averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season while shooting 47.3% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range. He appeared in all 82 games for the second time in his career, giving the Kings a versatile and dependable wing and a veteran voice in the locker room.

“HB’s been big from the moment he got here,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “You just saw the professionalism that he had. We’ve had our lockers next to each other since he’s been here, too, so just the little lessons, and, obviously, it’s a lot bigger than basketball for HB, knowing that he’s a businessman. He’s a part of the (National Basketball Players Association), so anytime there’s a meeting, he lets us know.

“He was huge for me, just showing me how I needed to work to get to the next level, because when he got here, he had already won a championship. He had already played in two (NBA) Finals, been to the playoffs multiple times, and just seeing the way he worked, being here early, staying late, whatever it may be, has made my work ethic that much better, which, ultimately, I feel like that’s what has gotten me to this point.”

Lyles, 27, has played for five teams over eight NBA seasons. The Kings acquired him in the deal that sent Marvin Bagley III to the Detroit Pistons in February 2022. He averaged 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game last season. This season, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per contest.

Lyles’ role fluctuated over the course of the season as coach Mike Brown experimented with lineups and rotations. He played a key role down the stretch as a stretch four and small-ball center, averaging over 17 minutes per game in January, February, March and April, including the playoffs.

“I came into a drought last year and was able to be a part of something special with this team and this organization this year,” Lyles said. “I think it’s just one of the small stepping stones for where we can go.”

Lyles said he expressed his gratitude Monday in a meeting with Brown and his coaching staff.

“I thanked him and the entire staff for the confidence they gave me every day, just continuing to speak highly of me and to me, so the relationships was great,” Lyles said. “I have the utmost respect for him and the coaching staff. There’s not a lot of guys I would go out and do anything for, but he’s now one of those guys.”