Joe Harris — Shooting Guard, Brooklyn Nets
I’m going to start with someone I am sure not many Jazz fans have heard of, but who is absolutely one of the best options out on the market right now. He also only made $1.5 million this last season, so even though he is due a raise, he should be very affordable for the Jazz.
Harris started his career in 2014 as a second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, which just so happened to be the same year that LeBron James returned to the team. After appearing in 51 games as a rookie, he was essentially cut out of the rotation, and in his second season, he would only play in five games.
He was then traded to the Orlando Magic and immediately dropped. Fighting to just stay in the league, he signed a two-year deal during the 2016 offseason to play with the Brooklyn Nets. After two years in the NBA, he was finally given the opportunity to play, and boy has he made the most of it.
Largely coming off the bench, he averaged 11 points per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field, and 42 percent from three. The highlight of his season was dropping a career high 30 points on his former team.
If Utah is going to target shooters this offseason, you are not likely to find many better than Harris. He also shot an incredible 45 percent on non-corner threes, and is a sneaky good driver. He finished the season with the top field goal percentage on drives to the basket (min. 100 attempts).
The question mark is going to be on the defensive side. Not for lack of trying, he’s a bit slow-footed. He’s a good team defender though, and can be successful if a solid defensive system is in place. He won’t be generating many turnovers, but at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, he has a big body and can stay in front of his man.
I am very high on Harris as a player the Jazz can bring in on a three-year contract, at an amount that is not going to disrupt the future of this team.