Lawyer: Matt Barnes may be playing in NBA Finals, needs later trial date

The attorney for Golden State Warriors forward Matt Barnes requested that his client's trial date in an assault case be postponed until June 27 -- and for good reason.

"I have reason to believe my client will be playing in the NBA Finals," lawyer Alex Spiro, representing Barnes, said in court in Manhattan on Friday, according to reports.

"Good luck," Judge Herbert Mosessaid, agreeing to the new date.

Barnes signed with the defending Western Conference champion Warriors this week in the wake of Kevin Durant's knee injury.

The 36-year-old forward faces third-degree assault charges, a misdemeanor, after police said he was involved in a Dec. 5 altercation at Avenue, a bar in Manhattan. Barnes also was charged with obstruction of breathing.

A related civil suit has been filed against Barnes and former teammate DeMarcus Cousins in a New York District Court by two plaintiffs, Jasmine Besiso and Myrone Powell. The lawsuit alleges that Barnes grabbed Besiso by her neck and began choking her at approximately 3 a.m. after a fight broke out in the VIP section of the club.

Cousins -- now with the New Orleans Pelicans -- is alleged to have punched Powell in the face after Powell had attempted to help Besiso, while Barnes is alleged to have elbowed Besiso in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Cousins was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and will not face charges following an NYPD investigation that concluded last week.

Barnes and the Warriors play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.