Joe Harris, who re-signed with Brooklyn on a two-year, $16MM deal, believes the Nets‘ young players can make “significant jumps” this season, as NetsDaily relays.
“We definitely have some new pieces to the team, but I think just being around everybody so far this offseason — although it’s relatively young — I think we have a lot of reasons to be optimistic,” said Harris. “If anything, we have an extremely competitive group and I think a lot of our younger players are gonna make significant jumps.”
Harris previously has said that he’s seen D’Angelo Russell take “considerable strides.”
“All I know is I’m really excited for the season to get going and I know everyone else is,” Harris said. “I’m not gonna go out here guaranteeing anything that’s gonna happen. I know we are gonna go out and compete every single night.”
Here’s more from Brooklyn:
- How much success the Nets have this season will depend on the health of Russell, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. “As he moves forward, he needs to create those habits and take care of his body,” GM Sean Marks said. “And I think people will be pretty surprised when they see what he’s done. He’s worked extremely hard on purely that, strengthening up his body and so forth.”
- Kemba Walker spoke about his love for Brooklyn during a youth summer basketball camp appearance recently. “That’s one thing about people from Brooklyn, they’re very loyal, they’re die-hard, they believe in their team,” Walker said (via NetsDaily). “I love Brooklyn. I love going there. I love playing there. It always gives me a chance to come back home, too, so that’s why I love it as well. I like the organization, too. It’s cool.” The point guard is expected to be a free agent in the summer of 2019.
- No. 29 overall pick Dzanan Musa believes he can play point guard among other positions for the Nets. “I can handle the ball like a lot,” the 6’9″ rookie said (via NetsDaily). “So, point guard, shooting guard, three, whatever. I’m ready to do it.”
Kemba will be with one of two teams at the start of the 19-20 season. Charlotte or Brooklyn
Do not discount the Lakers, Clippers, nor the Knicks..
Kemba loves Brooklyn, but if he’s offered the same amount of money, to sign with a more promising roster, I’m betting he signs elsewhere…
Musa is going to be really good, might take a year before he contributes but he’ll be very good.
What’s his skillset, and what makes you think so highly of Musa??
I’m just curious, because I literally know nothing about him..All I know is there has to be a reason he wasn’t drafted until the 29th pick, and while there are some great players drafted that low, it just makes me hesitate and pause…
Porzingis advised him so that kind of makes you believe he won’t be a total bust. He’s a good ball handler and should be a good 3 point shooter at the NBA level, i’d say he can become a poor man’s Peja Stojakovic.
He lasted because of small bony shoulders. But he does have skills.
Well now I am even more excited to see what D’Lo can do this year, hopefully he can stay healthy & have a great season & push Brooklyn close to the playoffs, for some reason I always have had a bit of a soft spot for the Nets, they have had some good players like Petrovic, Coleman, Van Horn, J-Kidd, Lopez, D-Will… so I would like to see them back in the playoffs in the next couple of years if they play their cards right. & all starts & ends by D’Lo, I hope he can breakthrough & be the player that was expected when picked #2 in the draft.
I used to love me some Keith Van Horn, and especially those high socks!! lol…
Also, I can’t help but picture and imagine how good the Lakers might look had they not traded D-Lo..
Then again, had he stayed in LA, he might not have ever really re-dedicated hisself, locked down, and really matured and focused on improving his game. Injuries aside though, he just looks like a completely different player and young man.
However, still, it would be fun to see the new D-Lo playing as LeBron’s “Kyrie” in LA..Especially, alongside Ingram, Kuzma, Hart, Wagner, KCP, Rondo, Beasley, McGee, Zubac, Stevenson, and the dead-eye shooter they drafted from Kansas…Not even going to try and spell that…lol
I’m just curious how well the team would do with D-Lo, as opposed to with Lonzo Ball..Or even if they would do better with D-Lo..
Deangelo seems to fit more in-line with the guards LeBron has played well alongside before.. Even with that being said, Ball’s ability to penetrate, finish around the basket, his high basketball IQ, and his ability to make plays should also translate well with LeBron..He will just really have to prove he’s taken a step forward on his 3-point accuracy, and improve his off-ball abilities to truly help this team the most..
Idk, it is just something interesting to think about..Not that it really makes a difference or matters at all..lol
The New York/New Jersey keep forgetting to include the part of Kemba’s speech that says he hopes to remain in Charlotte. He has unfinished business there. He wants a winning culture in Charlotte.
Plus more importantly Charlotte can offer him more $$$ than anyone else!