Devin Harris’ Ever-Changing Trade Status

Poor Devin. He can never really ever tell if he’s coming or going, and the NY Daily News has the latest: “Just over two months ago, when the Nets wrapped up a 12-70 season in Miami, Harris had no idea where he was headed. With the Nets locking up the best chance to secure the No. 1 pick, which would mean drafting Kentucky point guard John Wall, odds were Harris had just played his final game as a Net. But going into Thursday’s draft, it now seems unlikely that Harris will be used the same way that Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter were in the previous two offseasons – as trade bait. While Jefferson and Carter were both sent packing on the afternoon of the previous two drafts, all indications are that Harris will make it through the day and begin next season as the Nets’ starting point guard. In addition to finishing third in the draft lottery and likely losing any chance to land Wall, the Nets hired Johnson, who coached Harris in Dallas for 3-1/2 seasons before the point guard was traded to the Nets in the Jason Kidd deal. During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Johnson made it seem as if he was preparing to spend a lot of time with Harris in the months before the Nets start their season. ‘I’m really excited about us working together again,’ Johnson said. ‘I got to see him grow from a rookie in the NBA to a young man, and we’re going to get Devin playing the type of basketball that I know he’s capable of playing.’ Harris and Johnson had a rocky past but acted like best friends during the press conference, which Harris attended after cutting short his vacation. At one point, Harris grabbed a microphone and asked a question during the televised event, grinning ear to ear the whole time. He later admitted that he and Johnson had ‘butted heads’ over philosophical differences and the coach’s tendency to be overly critical of him during their time in Dallas. But while saying that he doubts the head-butting will completely go away, Harris made it clear he’s happy that Johnson is his coach again, and just as happy to have a future in New Jersey. Harris apparently spoke just as highly of Johnson during a private discussion with team president Rod Thorn late in the season, when Thorn asked his opinion on Johnson.”