A year ago, Joe Harris was in the mix to start at shooting guard for the Cavaliers. Cleveland’s other options were Shawn Marion (an over-the-hill forward) and Dion Waiters (a poor-fitting chucker).
Since, Cleveland has traded for solid shooting guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert and signed Mo Williams, who plays both guard spots. Point guard Kyrie Irving is close to returning, which could push Williams to more minutes at shooting guard, especially considering Matthew Dellavedova’s quality play.
So, where does this leave Harris?
Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal:
Would they just give him away? Lloyd:
It’ll be difficult, though not impossible, for the Cavaliers to get a real second-rounder Harris. At best, they’ll probably get just a top-55-protected pick, a technicality necessary to make a salary dump legal. But it’s not even certain Cleveland could give away Harris, whose minimum salary is guaranteed this season and unguaranteed next season.
The No. 33 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Harris has played sparingly in two seasons. He’s a solid spot-up 3-point shooter, but that’s the extent of his offensive game – at least at the NBA level right now. His defense is even more limited, though his 6-foot-6 frame at least hope he can make it work on that end. Harris has 3-and-D potential, but right now, he’s a 1.5-and-0 player.
Still, that’s judging him against the deep rotation of a title contender. Harris probably deserves a roster spot on a rebuilding team, and one might take him if the Cavs would deal him for no real return.
Despite Lloyd reporting they haven’t explored that option, that sounds likea negotiating ploy. Cleveland has major incentive to rid itself of Harris. Removing him from the payroll would trim the Cavaliers’ impending luxury-tax bill by $3,356,647.
Of course, if they use the vacated roster spot to sign a veteran – maybe someone who take a post-trade-deadline buyout – the tax bill would go back up.
But trading Harris – even if for nothing – would give the Cavaliers flexibility to make that decision.