The Golden State Warriors have been forced to cancel contract negotiations with forward Harrison Barnes.
NBA teams have until a November 2 deadline to come to an agreement on an extension for players currently on a rookie scale contract, and Golden State's failure to reach a deal means that Barnes will become a restricted free agent next summer.
The 23-year-old is believed to have rejected an offer in the early stages of negotiations, and while his decision not to sign a new contract will allow other teams to open talks with him at the end of the season, the Warriors will be able to match any offer sheet.
"He wanted to have some resolution to his extension discussions before the start of the season, which we completely understand," Warriors general manager Bob Myers told reporters. "I think he just wants to focus on the games as they stand now. We've completed discussions, and we're not going to be able to reach a deal.
"We still can match any offer. We can do five years. It puts us in a maybe stronger position."
Barnes averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 82 regular-season games as a starter for the champions last year.
Callum Mulvihill
