Denver Nuggets: 5 goals for Gary Harris in 2017-18

4. Average at least 3 assists per game

The Denver Nuggets may have more playmaking in their two big men than any other team in the league. It is rare for a team to expect their center to pace the team in assists, but that seems almost guaranteed with Nikola Jokic manning the middle. However, Jokic cannot create every opportunity by himself. Dribble penetration from the guards will be crucial to Denver’s offense this season.

Gary Harris nearly cracked three assists per game last season, finishing with 2.9 per game after just 1.9 per game as a sophomore. While assists are not the end-all, be-all of passing, they at least indicate that a player is leading their teammates to baskets with their passes.

The Nuggets should hope that Harris will focus more on making the right reads than simply assist-hunting, but he has never played that way anyway. Any jump in Harris’ assists would show an increased comfort in taking the ball to the rim and dishing out to open shooters. Even with Millsap around to soak up more touches, Harris should be able to average more than three assists per game if his passing vision develops.