The Brooklyn Nets are trading shooting guard Joe Harris to the Detroit Pistons, according to NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Draft picks are involved in the Pistons-Nets trade as well.
Harris signed a four-year, $75 million contract with the Nets in November 2020. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024. The 31-year-old will make $19.9 million next season.
The Nets have been trying to trade Harris for a while now. The Virginia product averaged 7.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists this past season while shooting 45.7% from the field, 42.6% from beyond the arc and 64.3% from the free-throw line in 74 games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joe Harris, Detroit Pistons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Brooklyn is clearing cap space so it can re-sign small forward Cameron Johnson in restricted free agency. Johnson is expected to command a starting salary of $20 million a year.
The Nets acquired Johnson from the Phoneix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade. The 27-year-old sharpshooter averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games with Brooklyn while shooting 46.8% from the field, 37.2% from beyond the arc and 85.1% from the free-throw line.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Nets are expected to keep Johnson, who is close friends with Brooklyn star Mikal Bridges.
“The Nets, though, are quietly expressing confidence that they have all but convinced Johnson to re-sign … or that they will match any external offer they need to match to keep him,” Stein wrote.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joe Harris, Detroit Pistons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
As for Harris, he joins a Pistons team in rebuild mode. Detroit won only 17 games last season. Harris has career averages of 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Nets. His salary will come off the Pistons’ books after next season, giving the franchise even more cap space.
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