Nets general manager Sean Marks had called re-signing Joe Harris offseason priority No. 1. Mission accomplished.
In the opening hours of free agency, Harris agreed to a four-year, $75 million contract to stay in Brooklyn, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
Harris averaged a career-high 14.5 points and 42.4 percent shooting from 3-point range this past season. He expressed a desire to stay in Brooklyn, where he had risen from waiver-wire pickup to 2019 league 3-point champ. The idea of contending for a title alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving made him want to return even more.
“Definitely. Why wouldn’t you?” Harris had said during the season. “Those are guys I’ve gotten close with now that I’ve been with them this past year. They’re obviously incredible players. You see what they’re able to do when they are healthy and playing. I don’t think there’s anybody in the NBA who wouldn’t want to play with those guys.”
Now he gets to, with the Nets fending off interest from several other teams befitting one of the league’s best shooters. The Post had reported earlier in the offseason that Atlanta would be one of Brooklyn’s top competitors for Harris’ services, but the Hawks gave Danilo Gallinari a three-year, $61.5 million deal.
Harris’ contract was celebrated on social media by both teammates and ownership.
“Huge Congrats!” Nets center Jarrett Allen tweeted. “Well deserved too!”
Nets center DeAndre Jordan tweeted a video of both he and Harris celebrating, and the humorous caption, “When you forgot your wallet, but you know your boy got you! #buckets #brinkstruck.” Team owner Joe Tsai may have topped that by sharing a video of former presidential candidate — and Knicks-turned-Nets fan — Andrew Yang yelling, “Joe, you did it! Thank you Joe! Yes!”
Sure, Yang was celebrating four years of Biden, not Harris. But the Nets have reason to be happy over this signing, even if it was a little costlier than some expected. Harris took less to stay in Brooklyn on his last deal, and the Nets reciprocated that loyalty two years later.
“Joe is an intricate piece to the program here, not only what he does and what everybody sees on the court, but it’s off the court as well,” Marks said earlier Friday. “He’s seen this program develop and developed alongside this program.”
The Nets had little choice, over the cap and unable to replace Harris if he’d left.
It’s uncertain exactly how Harris’ deal is structured, though a starting salary of $16.7 million and 8 percent annual increases are likely. Former Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks — now ESPN’s cap guru — estimated the Nets’ luxury tax bill stands at $47.5 million before any adjustment for the league’s falling basketball related income.
Nevertheless, Tsai had vowed he will pay the tax to fund a contender, and Harris will help make his Nets just that. Harris’ 43.9 3-point shooting percentage since 2017-18 is the NBA’s second-best, and he has become a better driver and defender as well.
“His 3-point shooting, elite size and he knows his game, doesn’t try to do things he can’t do,” ex-76ers scout Michael Vandegarde told The Post, calling the 6-foot-6 small forward a perfect complement to the Nets’ stars.
“Playing with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant will make him even better. Even though his production in points might not be the same, but they will free him up for easier shots if he has the opportunity to play off them. He’s had great success and become a great player. … He’s an integral part of what they want to do.”
Unless the Nets shed a significant salary (Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince), they will have just the taxpayer mid-level exception worth $5.7 million. Target Serge Ibaka likely will command full mid-level exemption offers ($9 million), but he has talked with Durant about playing together and been recruited by his former OKC teammate.