Brooklyn Nets: 3 former James Harden teammates to sign

2. Austin Rivers, Denver Nuggets

Like Ariza, Rivers has bounced around the league plenty during his career, with 2020-21 beginning with him as a struggling backup on the Knicks before he made the trip to Denver in order to aid in Nikola Jokic’s postseason run.

Rivers’ 7.9 points per game average on a 42% shooting clip certainly won’t force the Nets to get on the line with his agent instantly, but he’s shown over the years that he is capable of getting hot from 3-point range and carrying a team for a quarter or so. He could be a quality sparkplug off of the bench.

Austin Rivers would be a solid bench player for the Nets.

Plus, he hates the Knicks! Never a bad thing.

While Rivers’ best years in the league came under his father with the Clippers, his 8.7 points per game in Houston was higher than what he produced in New Orleans, New York, Washington, or Denver. That D’Antoni system just gets the most out of guards, and Rivers could stand to benefit once again.

The Nets might have Harden and Kyrie Irving to handle the ball, but Rivers’ prior experience at point guard could help him take up some point guard minutes when both Harden and Irving are resting. Just days away from turning 29, Rivers has a ton of good basketball left to show off.