Gary Harris has been a break out player for Denver and the Nuggets must secure him long term.
Even with the big signing of Paul Millsap this free agency, the Denver Nuggets need to find a way to lock Gary Harris in long term. He is progressing at a rate that will yield great offers from other teams in the future and the Denver Nuggets do not want to get in a bidding war for him.
Nuggets GM, Tim Connelly, had stated before the off season got into full swing that extending Gary’s current contract would be a top priority this off season. Well, it should have been done already, yet here we are, still waiting for Harris to receive what he deserves.
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However, in Connelly’s defense, they have been a bit preoccupied with the Millsap signing, Gallinari trade and other free agent matters. What may happen is that Denver will wait until all of the quality free agents are off the market and then get down to business with Gary and his contract.
Harris may not exactly be a max deal caliber player quite yet, but in today’s NBA, that does not deter other teams from showing a guy like Harris the big bucks. Especially teams in rebuilding mode like the Brooklyn Nets for example. Denver has to be wary of these facts if they are going to let Harris play out his contract and refuse to re-negotiate his current deal.
I have faith that Tim Connelly knows what he is doing, but the fact that he said they were going to extend Harris this summer and it has not happened yet is a bit puzzling. There is a reason the Nuggets have said Gary Harris is untouchable when it comes to trades ( the other two untouchables being Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic) and it is because the organization sees the potential in Harris that is yet to be unlocked.
He happens to be approaching that potential at a rapid pace as well and if the Nuggets traded him, it would have been a disastrous move.
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Tim Connelly and the Denver Nuggets need to get Gary Harris committed to the Nuggets long term and it needs to happen as soon as possible.