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Dallas Mavericks Re-Sign Devin Harris

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 26, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Devin Harris (20) during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 108-89. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Devin Harris (20) during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 108-89. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Did the Dallas Mavericks really want Raymond Felton to be their starting point guard? Probably not, so (and this may be the first time these words have ever been written:) thank God for Devin Harris.

The team announced Thursday that the Mavs had re-signed Harris and Eddie Sefco of The Dallas Morning News reported the details of the deal: four years, $16.5 million.

Devin Harris, who is entering his 11th year in the league, averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 assists per game last season while shooting 37.8 percent from the floor and 30.7 percent from three-point range. Injuries limited him to only 40 games, but Harris was a decent distributor off the bench when he was healthy and at the very least, he could spare the Mavs from the phrase, “starting point guard, Raymond Felton.”

Harris spent his first four seasons with the Mavericks before being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2008. During the 2008-09 season, Harris had his best year, averaging 21.3 points and 6.9 assists per game. Harris has also played two seasons with the Utah Jazz and one year with the Atlanta Hawks.

After trading away Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert and Shane Larkin to the New York Knicks for Tyson Chandler and Felton, backcourt depth became a concern. Calderon averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 assists per game last season with the Mavs and was a serviceable starting point guard. By trading him and a potential future asset away in Larkin, the Mavs made it clear their focus is on winning now to give Dirk Nowitzki another chance at a deep playoff run.

Signing Harris doesn’t help too much on that front, but he’s a veteran locker presence that, if Rick Carlisle is smart (which we already know he is) will mark a significant upgrade over Felton or the young Gal Mekel. The Mavs now have one remaining roster spot available.

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