While there is only one game left for the Brooklyn Nets this season and free agency a couple months away, re-signing Joe Harris is a smart move.
Joe Harris will be one of five current Brooklyn Nets players that will become unrestricted free agents this upcoming offseason. He is expected to be targeted the hardest out of the group by other NBA teams which should give Nets fans a big concern.
Despite another losing season for the Brooklyn Nets, Harris has been consistent on the stat sheet. He has been shooting the three-ball at an excellent .411 percent and averaging just under 11 points per game. Harris is Brooklyn’s go-to player for spot-up plays. The Nets, in fact, lead the Eastern Conference in running spot-up plays (23.0%) this season and score an average of 26.7 points per game off spot-ups.
According to Synergy Sports, Harris has shown he’s more than just a spot-up shooter. Harris has averaged 1.11 points per possession. This currently ranks in the 91st percentile among all NBA players.
Harris’ go-to move is a spot-up three but he has more strong moves in his offensive arsenal. He has shown the ability to drive to the basket with his off hand.
According to Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoopshype.com, Harris is averaging 1.07 points per possession on hand-offs this season. This average puts Harris in the top 10 in hand-off scoring the league.
When it comes to shooting off a screen, Harris ranks top 20 in the league shooting 1.06 points per possession. Last season, Harris averaged 0.91 points per possession off screens. This shows Harris has improved and expanded his game.
The Nets guard has improved his transition offense this season as well. Harris has been averaging 1.27 points per possession while he’s in transition. When in transition on the left wing, he is even more effective averaging 1.48 points per possession. Only Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors is averaging more than Harris in this category.
It is great to see Harris expanding his game with consistency. With Harris becoming an unrestricted free agent, it is clear multiple teams will have their eyes on him.
This past Saturday, Harris put his name in the Nets record books. Harris became the Nets franchise leader in three-pointers off the bench in a single season with 116.
Record set ✔️ pic.twitter.com/viZyW6R4XF
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 1, 2018
The Brooklyn Nets have a good chance of bringing back Harris but it could cost them. Harris will be expecting a pay-raise on his new deal. The value of Harris can range from a projected minimum of three million a year.
According to Basketball Insiders, Harris will not worry about free agency until the 2017-2018 season comes to an end.
“Yeah, it’s one of those things that I’ll worry about that sort of decision when the time comes. But I have really enjoyed my time in Brooklyn. It’s a great organization with a lot of good people, and they try and do stuff the right way. I enjoy being a part of that and trying to kind of rebuild and set a good foundation for where the future of the Brooklyn Nets is.”
It would be a smart move for the Nets to bring back Harris. He has shown he likes where the Nets rebuilding process and fits with Coach Kenny Atkinson’s small ball offensive strategies.
It won’t be as easy as it sounds for Brooklyn to bring back Harris. Although no teams have publicly expressed interest in Harris due to tampering rules, his offensive production off the bench would fit well with many contending teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Boston Celtics to name a few.
He will be one of the best wings on the market not only because of his offensive play but because teams won’t have to break the bank on him.
July will be an exhilarating month for Harris and the Nets. Re-signing Harris should be one of the Nets top priorities. The Nets do have an advantage over other NBA teams. Yes, Harris has expressed loyalty and pride playing for Brooklyn the past two seasons but the Nets can sign Harris outside the cap. The Nets should re-sign Harris as soon as the free agency period is underway.
