NBA Free Agency: Nets Should Pursue Moe Harkless

The Brooklyn Nets still have available cap space, and there are a few options left on the free agent market. With this in mind, perhaps the Nets should consider a New York connection and sign Moe Harkless.

Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent Moe Harkless hasn’t garnered a ton of buzz this offseason, but the former first round pick is still young with his prime ahead of him. There had been initial rumors that the Blazers would match an offer sheet signed by Harkless, but he has yet to sign anywhere. The Nets have already been thwarted by the Trail Blazers once this offseason when Portland matched Brooklyn’s offer for Allen Crabbe, but that shouldn’t deter Sean Marks and company.

It may be easy to forget that Harkless, the 15th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, is still just 23 years-old. The Nets could bring Harkless in on a team-friendly deal and allow him to continue his growth as a player.

Harkless, a small forward, would give the Nets another option at the position, as second-year forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson figures to see an increased role this upcoming season. The Nets also have Bojan Bogdanovic, who played in 79 games last season with 39 starts. Adding Harkless would give head coach Kenny Atkinson even more flexibility. Harkless played in 78 games for the Trail Blazers last season, and shot a career-high 47 percent.

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Season	Tm	G	MP	FG%	3P%	eFG%	TRB	STL	BLK	PTS
2012-13	ORL	76	26.0	.461	.274	.489	4.4	1.2	0.8	8.2
2013-14	ORL	80	24.4	.464	.383	.525	3.3	1.2	0.6	7.4
2014-15	ORL	45	15.0	.399	.179	.430	2.4	0.7	0.2	3.5
2015-16	POR	78	18.7	.474	.279	.522	3.6	0.6	0.4	6.4

Harkless played in just 18 minutes per game last season, the second lowest of his career. He played in 15 minutes per game in 2014-15, his final season with the Orlando Magic. However, Harkless has improved since his early days in the league. This past season, Harkless shot a career-high 62 percent from the free throw line, after shooting just 53 percent in 2014-15.

Season	Tm	G	FG%	3P%	FT%	TRB	STL	BLK	PTS
2015-16	POR	78	.474	.279	.622	6.9	1.2	0.9	12.3

Harkless’s per-36 averages from the 2015-16 season feature career-highs, 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Part of the intrigue with Harkless is his age. He won’t turn 24 until nearly the end of the 2016-17 season, so in Harkless the Nets would be getting a young player who could continue to learn and perhaps have a role at small forward.

The Brooklyn Nets have already brought in one player with strong New York ties, in Jeremy Lin. If the Nets were to sign Harkless, they would have another. Harkless was born in Queens, New York, and went to College at St. John’s University. Lin’s storyline, due to Linsanity, has already drawn buzz from Nets’ fans. While Harkless doesn’t have an NBA time period named in his likeness, Brooklyn fans would likely welcome him home with open arms nevertheless.

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As we sit in mid-July, most free agents are off the board as teams begin to prepare for the 2016-17 season. But that doesn’t mean value cannot be found at this point in time. The Brooklyn Nets still have space to sign a player such as Harkless, and if he continues to improve as he ages, it could be a worthwhile move for the Nets.