When Denver was humiliated in games #2 and #3 against Utah Jazz the true reason for that is Malone losing control of everything with the whole team collapse defensively and offensively both. It was easy to use Porter as a scapegoat and say that Gary Harris is our saint and savior. But in reality, Harris missed 5 opening games vs Utah, and in his 1st game after comeback, he played just 20 minutes, in a game where Utah starting guards Mitchell and Conley scored 44+21 points (21-38 FG), but it was frontcourt line and bench who betrayed Utah that night (with another epic Murray performance) for a routine Nuggets win. So, basically, we are 3-3 vs Utah without Harris with two gifted loses, and in the series vs Lakers Harris impact was literally negative with no opponent backcourt player on which he can use his defensive talent and awful 26FG% offense were Malone too late realizes need to restrict Harris minutes under 20. Harris would be very useful against Utah, not just in the final game#7, with his great defense he was the 4th most important player in the win vs Clippers, and if we reached the final he would use much more effectively vs Butler and Dragic than vs Lakers.skywalker33 wrote:Again, I don't know where you come up with these crazy statements but I don't buy this at all. We were getting our buts whipped in the playoffs until GHarris came back, it changed the trajectory of our playoffs. And while he's not known for his D, Barton can play some adequate defense himself.
But overall speaking, Harris importance to the Denver game and defense was pumped by the Barton injury and the Beasley trade, so we have Harris>>>Morris defense case. Otherwise, he would be another dead salary this season with Millsap and Plumlee, producing just 10-3-2 52%TS (7-2-2 in playoff) for $18M. If we re-sign Grant, and Malone and Porter solve their issues, the only spot where we should be focussed on improvement are Harris/Barton guard spot. If our FO makes that Jrue trade before the trade-deadline which they tried this winter, our chances vs the Lakers would be 50% this summer in WCF if not higher!
The other player which should be traded is Will Barton. He has a career-best season this year and was even playing with the highest playing time this season. Barton is a good two-way player able to play in three different positions, but he is a bad fit for this Denver system and roster. Period.
Harris has had injuries too, definitely has had a huge impact on his offensive game but he's still one of the best perimeter defenders in the game right now. To call him awful is a pathetic response to a bad trade proposal. Very unlikely this trade was to gain ANY footing, even so, I think your evaluation is disrespectful.
