According to Bleacher Report, the Brooklyn Nets have expressed a “surprising willingness” to trade sharpshooter Joe Harris as NBA trades open up this week.
On Dec. 15, the trading period begins that could rock the NBA with seismic shifts across the league. Players who signed contracts as free agents last year will soon be eligible for trades, which is expected to affect teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Brooklyn Nets, and many more.
Like the 76ers, the Nets are stuck in a similar situation with their own star point guard, Kyrie Irving. Irving continues to refuse taking the COVID-19 vaccine, which prevents him from playing with the Brooklyn Nets due to NYC laws. While the NBA is pushing for league-wide vaccination, no such policy is currently in place, meaning that an unvaccinated Irving could hypothetically play for a different NBA team in a different part of the United States.
Even though Irving can leave, it doesn’t mean other teams are willing to sign him. According to Bleacher Report, the Nets are “open to discussing trades for Irving”, yet none of those calls have been able to “generate significant traction” thus far.
Without strong interest in Irving, the Nets are open to a different trade option in Brooklyn: a fair deal for sharpshooter Joe Harris.
Brooklyn Nets are considering trades for Joe Harris
According to Bleacher Report, the Brooklyn Nets have expressed a “surprising willingness” to trade sharpshooter Joe Harris. A trade for Harris would be costly: both for the Nets and for whichever team trades for him.
“It’s crazy to me; he’s their only real three-and-D player,” said one assistant general manager. “But his name keeps popping up.”
Harris is out with an ankle injury he sustained on Nov. 15 and underwent ankle surgery on Nov. 29, but he’s still expected to return later this season. Harris remains an underrated player who has opened up the Nets offense when he’s been on the court.
Another Nets option that could pop up is Nic Claxton, a third-year forward that has made a name for himself in Brooklyn and could command a decent price.
If the Nets do trade Harris, they’ll need someone in return who could make threes the way Harris can.