Ranking 4 buyout candidates the Utah Jazz need to target now

Utah Jazz buyout candidate #3: Gary Harris

If a feel-good reunion isn’t in the cards, maybe the Jazz can help Gary Harris continue with his redemption story.

It wasn’t so long ago that Harris was viewed as an indispensable part of the Denver Nuggets’ young core. In 2016-17, Harris shot 42.0% on 4.5 three-point attempts per contest. In 2017-18, he posted a solid DBPM of -0.2. After Klay Thompson, he was widely regarded as the league’s preeminent example of a 3-and-D off-guard.

The rest is history. The Nuggets rewarded Harris with a 4-year, $84 million dollar contract that he just never lived up to. Now, he’s in the final year of that pact, and in an Orlando Magic uniform.

Only, perhaps not for long. The Magic are in the early stages of a rebuild, and the 27-year-old Harris can’t be in their future plans. Meanwhile, Harris’ play has turned a corner after a several seasons long slump. He’s averaging 11.4 points while shooting 38.1% on 4.9 threes per night.

Enter the Utah Jazz.

Harris isn’t precisely a 3-and-D wing. At 6’4, he’s not equipped to do much about the Giannis Antetokounmpos and Kevin Durants of the NBA. Furthermore, his defense has actually slipped since his days in Denver. He’s posting a -0.9 DBPM this season after a brutal -2.2 last year.

Pickings can be slim on the buyout market. The Jazz could do worse than Harris. He’s an archetypical floor spacer who will fit snugly into Quin Snyder’s system. It’s possible that a motivated Harris will improve his defensive effort for a contending team.

He’s not at the top of this list, but he should be viewed as a possibility by this Jazz front office.