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Brooklyn Nets: 1 mistake BK can’t afford to make this offseason

By Jerry Trotta

Newly hired Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks answers questions during a press conference before the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on February 19, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Newly hired Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks answers questions during a press conference before the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks at Barclays Center on February 19, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Brooklyn Nets’ season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion in the second round of the playoffs vs Milwaukee, as a herculean effort from Kevin Durant ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome injuries to backcourt tandem Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

It would be easy for general manager Sean Marks to overreact to the Nets’ elimination, as the season was widely regarded as championship or bust. However, if not for injuries, there was seemingly nothing standing in their way from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

We like to think Marks is aware of this, but he made some eye-opening comments during his latest media session by declaring “there’s going to be change” to the roster.

We’ll know soon enough what the 45-year-old executive meant by those remarks, but fans in Brooklyn will surely be driving themselves up a wall until then.

As we’ve seen in the past, comments like that often lead to mistakes by GMs, so what’s one Brooklyn absolutely cannot afford to make this offseason? In our eyes, trading Joe Harris, who struggled mightily in the playoffs, would fall under that category.

The Nets would be making a mistake if they traded Joe Harris.

Harris is right. Had he played better (or just hit a few more WIDE open shots), the Nets undoubtedly would’ve disposed of the Bucks. Look no further than his open three from the left wing with 59 seconds left in Game 7 with the score knotted up at 111-111. You can point to at least a handful of other instances in the series where Harris came up small.

This might be a lame excuse for some fans, but for as disappointing as he was in the playoffs, what Harris showed in the regular season cannot be ignored. The former second-rounder averaged 14.1 points and lead the NBA in 3-point percentage at 47.5%. He was virtually unguardable when the Nets had two of their three superstars in the lineup.

With Harden and Irving out, however, Harris shrunk on the biggest stage. While that’s a truly terrible look for the 29-year-old sharpshooter, his struggles were more of an indictment on Brooklyn’s lack of depth than the choice to give him $75 million last offseason.

Don’t let Harris’ playoff struggles distract you from the fact that he’s a perfect fit alongside Durant, Harden and Irving. Had the latter two stars not gotten hurt, Harris might’ve felt less pressure to perform and likely would’ve played with more confidence.

We’re not making excuses for Harris. We’d even go as far as to say that he didn’t deserve to be in the rotation by the end of the Bucks series. However, the vitriol he’s receiving on social media has been a little exaggerated…to say nothing of the videos of his jersey being burned. Grow up!

You heard it here first, Nets fans: keep the faith in Harris and focus on adding a backup ball-handler and competent center first and foremost in free agency.