Brooklyn Nets: Joe Harris is focused on bigger goals in 2018-19

The already crowded backcourt of the Brooklyn Nets will once again need Joe Harris to excel in the upcoming 2018-19 NBA season.

The Brooklyn Nets have undergone a transition this offseason with the additions of players like Kenneth Faried and Shabazz Napier. Those new arrivals also led to the departures of guards Isaiah Whitehead and fan favorite Jeremy Lin in trades. The roster changes opened up even more opportunity for Joe Harris, who chose to return to Brooklyn in free agency and turned down potentially bigger offers from other teams.

Harris is returning to the Nets on a two-year, $16 million deal looking for a bigger role in the team’s rotation. Last season, Harris averaged a career high 10.8 points and shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range. His biggest game was the 30-point effort on 11-of-14 shooting against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers back in March.

During NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month, Harris spoke with reporters and provided insight as to why he chose to re-sign with Brooklyn.

"“You’re living in an amazing place, you’re playing in the Barclays Center, you’re playing in front of great fans. It’s tough to beat that. I think Brooklyn is easily one of the best NBA cities out there. It’s hard to compete with everything that Brooklyn has to offer as a city. I know that and I’ve really enjoyed just being there the last couple of years.”"

"“It’s a family-first organization and they want that to be noticeable in the organization with the players. They don’t force anything on us. But guys, we tend to gravitate and want to hang out and be around each other. There’s good chemistry and continuity. Ultimately it’s going to help us be better. The teams that have got good continuity, good chemistry, typically have more success.”"

Harris continues to show his appreciation for living in Brooklyn by participating in local community events. He recently visited the Brooklyn Hospital Center along with teammate Jarrett Allen and several WWE superstars to cheer up families.

Hoops Habit was on hand to speak with the former University of Virginia star about the upcoming season.

"“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. If anything, we have an extremely competitive group and I think a lot of our younger players are gonna make significant jumps.“All I know is I’m really excited for the season to get going and I know everyone else is. 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.”"

The Brooklyn Nets will try to put Harris in a spot where his sharpshooting will be needed the most. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and D’Angelo Russell are all returning and will continue to play significant roles in the backcourt, so Harris will need to make an immediate impact to solidify his spot in a crowded rotation.