Matt Barnes was close to signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason, while he also considered the Golden State Warriors before signing with the Sacramento Kings.

“It came down to the Clippers, Warriors, and Sacramento kind of jumped in late,” he said. “[Coming home] was always something I wanted to do. I just didn’t know it was going to happen. I just happened to be home for the Fourth of July visiting my family and I signed. It was kind ironic that I just happened to be in Sacramento when they called.”

Barnes signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Kings.

“I thought it was a done deal, I was going to the Clippers,” said Barnes. “The day before I was supposed to meet with Doc (Rivers), they decided to go in another direction with Wesley Johnson. That was obviously my first choice at the time, to be close to my kids. Golden State was always a choice; they just didn’t have very much money. I’ve always been the guy to take less money to play on a better team, but the price gap was too far on this one.

“It’s always been a dream and a goal of mine to come back home at some point. To get a chance to play with DeMarcus, Rudy [Gay], and some of these guys has been a great experience.”

The Clippers traded Barnes during the 2015 offseason for Lance Stephenson.