Would the Nets trade Joe Harris?

In an ESPN Insider report and on a Chris Mannix podcast this week, Bobby Marks, the Nets former assistant GM (and no relation to the current GM), speculated that the Nets likely next move is trading Joe Harris, the 6’6” guard whose deep shooting skills might appeal to a contender.

In the ESPN Insider story on what each team’s fans should look for as trade season begins, Marks suggested moving Harris was about numbers... Harris’ salary in particular.

The former second-round pick is having a career season and will be an unrestricted free agent in July. If Brooklyn is looking to optimize Harris' trade value, the window is now. If they hold onto him past Feb. 8, the Nets will either have to sign Harris to a contract that starts in the $5-6 million range or lose him for nothing.

Expect the Nets to receive a good second-round pick if Harris is moved.

Harris makes only $1.5 million this season and is averaging 10.1 points per game off the bench and shooting 39 percent from deep.

On Chris Mannix’s podcast, Marks explained how Harris, like Trevor Booker traded to the 76ers last week, is a valuable commodity ... and drew a real estate analogy.

“They weren't going to re-sign Trevor Booker at the end of the season even though he's having a career year. That's what Brooklyn's been doing lately.

“It's like they're flipping houses. they take these journeymen, they refurbish them, make them all shiny and nice. and they flip them for an asset. I think that could happen.”

There’s no rumors that Harris might get moved and it’s questionable whether Nik Stauskas, acquired in the same deal that brought Jahlil Okafor to Brooklyn, could be a Harris replacement. Both are 6’6” wingmen.

Although both are solid shooters and had almost identical numbers last season, Harris is viewed as a better rebounder and defender, Stauskas the better playmaker. The Nets may want to pair them once Stauskas gets acclimated to the Nets system and proves he can defend.

Marks said that although players are often not traded around the holidays, this year could be different since the trade deadline has been moved up by more that two weeks, to 3 p.m. ET on February 8.

Since 2012 only four trades have occurred between Dec. 15 and Dec. 31, Marks noted, adding that with the trade deadline moved up two weeks, expect that trend to change.

On another issue, Marks and Mannix podcast agreed Okafor could contribute to the Nets this year, with both also suggesting they expect a renewal in big lineups, breaking the small ball trend and giving players like the Duke product new life.

“I think we're going to see the cycle of big men coming back here. I know we've gone to the small ball era and and 5's have become extinct a little bit, but with Embiid and Drummond and some of the names there. DeAndre Jordan, especially if you can stay on the court at the end of the games...

“I think there's a role for Okafor.”

Friday is the day that 100 free agents signed over the summer can be traded for the first time.