The Spurs nearly traded Brent Barry on Thursday afternoon in a multi-team deal that would have netted New Orleans guard J.R. Smith, two NBA sources said.

The deal was close enough to completion — one opposing team executive said he had heard it was done — that Spurs officials initially told Barry he might not need to board the team's charter flight here.

The deal unraveled near the league's 3 p.m. trade deadline, which was an hour before the Spurs were scheduled to depart. After Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told Barry the trade was dead, Barry accompanied the team here.

Via Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets

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