Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris in-depth 2019-20 projections

Shooting:

Harris shot 42.4 percent overall last season, which was his lowest mark in four years. This was uncharacteristic, as he’d knocked down nearly 50.0 percent of his overall looks over the prior two seasons.

He appeared to have limited explosiveness, due to his various lower-body injuries. Per Basketball-Reference, Harris finished just 61.7 percent of attempts within three feet of the rim last season, at times unable to elevate and finish. This is well below the 71.8 percent he converted in 2017-18.

The 3-point shooting was also tough for Harris, as last year’s 33.9 percent was a constant ice storm. He shot just 6-of-27 from distance in the Western Conference Semifinals, as Denver lost a seven-game series to the Portland Trail Blazers.

His outside shooting numbers have trended downward over the past few years:

Harris’ 3-point numbers in by season:

• 2016-17: 42.0 percent, 1.9 3-point makes per game
• 2017-18: 39.6 percent, 2.3 3-point makes per game
• 2018-19: 33.9 percent, 1.4 3-point makes per game

Harris’ shooting percentages are projected to increase across the board for 2019-20. He’s slated to shoot 46.2 percent from the field, and 37.8 percent from 3-point range.

One notable, Harris isn’t projected to fully regain his 2017-18 proficiency level. It’s hard to predict such dramatic increases until he’s proven consistently healthy. He could still resemble Klay Thompson someday, but last year’s performance won’t accomplish this.

Nonetheless, look for Harris to make a comeback and return to much of his previous efficiency in 2019-20.