Aloha,
I can see why moving Joe Harris as part of the Kyrie deal is important to the Nets. The Nets maybe looking at an immediate rebuild. The Lakers future picks really doesn’t help them much in that regard, but moving Joe Harris does. It clears 19 mil of cap space next year. The Lakers want Curry but he is expiring so there is no benefit to the Knicks. Besides Curry could be a useful trade chip. Contenders are always looking for snipers. The Lakers may have to bite the bullet on Harris get a trade done. Not taking Harris could delay a trade until the deadline or it may not happen at all.
The issue with Harris is partly luxury taxes. The Lakers paid $45M, 5th most, and Nets $98M, 2nd most. Neither team wants to increase payroll as a result of the trade. In fact, both would like to reduce salary. Harris makes $18.6 per year while Curry only makes $8.4M. That’s a $10M difference. Eventual trade will likely be a close match with neither team adding salary.
The other issue with Harris is the second year. Unless LeBron verbally agrees to sign extension, the Lakers will not take back contracts that go beyond how far LeBron has committed, which right now is just next season. That’s why we got stuck with Lonnie Walker IV. He’s all we could get offering just 1 year. Now we’re saying we won’t take Harris because of the second year.
Then there’s the draft picks. We’ll give up one I think but need the second one to move THT and Nunn. Solution then is to expand trade to include THT and Nunn but in the end, the Nets don’t have enough 1-year deals other than Curry to make this trade work. So Lakers will have to take back multi-year contracts.
At some point, LeBron has to realize that he needs to commit so that Rob can close the deal. Or demand a trade. Can’t sit on the effing fence like he is doing right now without risking wasting this valuable one of the few remaining years in his championship window.
This is typical LeBron. The problem is, he’s always left, leaving his team hanging. While I have no desire to sign Kyrie beyond this year, there is a better chance at a ring then with Russ. We will see how important another championship is too LeBron.
The issue with Harris is he has bad ankles…