Joe Harris re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets, quickly agreeing to a two-year, $16 million deal. His challenge is to not press to justify the bigger paycheck.
Brooklyn Nets swingman Joe Harris made it back from the brink, establishing himself as a legitimate NBA player with the Nets after being out of the Association for six months in 2016.
Harris played so well after coming to Brooklyn that he earned a two-year, $16 million deal in free agency to remain with the Nets, which is heady territory for a guy who earned just a shade more than $4 million total in his first four NBA seasons.
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Harris had a terrific season for the Nets in 2017-18, setting career highs in just about everything en route to averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game on .491/.419/.827 shooting.
He became a true dual-threat wing. Give him room and he drops a 3-pointer in your grille. Play tight and watch in frustration as Harris blows by to the rim.
Not only was he a near 42 percent shooter from deep, he was the most efficient slasher in the NBA with at least 100 shot attempts on drives at 70.2 percent.
The contract was a surprise, as he was expected to be in the $6 million to $7 million range annually as a free agent. The $8 million average annual value might have been a bit of a reach, but general manager Sean Marks felt good enough about Harris to tap into the precious cap space for 2019-20 to keep him.
The Nets currently have five guaranteed deals on the books for 2019-20, with Harris’ front-loaded deal paying him $7.67 million in the second year.
The other guarantees for the important summer of 2019 are small ones: Dzanan Musa at $1.9 million, Shabazz Napier at $1.85 million, Rodions Kurucs at $1.7 million and Treveon Graham at $1.65 million. Allen Crabbe has an $18.5 million player option, as well, per Early Bird Rights.
The biggest battle for Harris moving forward might be an internal one.
Young role players who get that first big payday after battling their way into the league from the second round of the draft (and the waiver wire) have been known to press after getting paid, attempting to justify the new large salary.
PistonPowered
Harris just turned 27 on Sept. 6 and is entering his fifth NBA season after playing the full four years at the University of Virginia, so he’s got maturity on his side in that battle against putting too much pressure on himself.
The biggest change in Harris’ game last season was his success off the dribble. He had been a decently efficient converter on runs to the rim in 2016-17, but took that to a whole new level last season, displaying some serious fearlessness and the ability to finish through contact.
He converted the shot on 16 of the 45 times he was fouled in the act of shooting after doing so just three times in 21 tries over his first three seasons.
The good news there is that sort of finishing power doesn’t slump. An outside shot may run hot and cold, but if you can finish at the rim, you can finish at the rim. Layups don’t go cold very often.
Harris saw about two-thirds of his minutes last season at the 2, but may see more time at the 3 this season given a very full backcourt rotation that includes D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie, point guards who can easily slide over to the 2 spot.
Allen Crabbe figures to be the starter at the 2 and Caris LeVert‘s time at the point figures to diminish with the addition of Shabazz Napier. There is also rookie Dzanan Musa who will get some minutes at the 2, as well.
DeMarre Carroll goes into the season as the projected starter at the 3, with Harris likely to be the first wing off the bench.
Others in that small forward mix include Graham, Kurucs and camp invitees Theo Pinson and Mitch Creek.