Utah Jazz: Devin Harris Trade Rumors Only Serve as a Distraction

According to ESPN's Mark Stein, the Utah Jazz have placed point guard Devin Harris on the NBA trading block. 

Harris, who joined the team in the middle of last season in return for sending away Deron Williams, has struggled with injuries and has yet to get a solid grasp of his role in the offense since coming to Utah. 

Despite the difficulties, which were very evident in a recent home game against the Dallas Mavericks, Harris is not likely going anywhere soon and talking about trading him only serves as a distraction to this Jazz team that is currently exceeding expectations. 

Even if the team is looking to move Harris, it will be difficult to find a team willing to make a trade before the trade deadline in March.

With the exception of the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks who are waiting for point guards to return from injuries and need help at that position to win now, teams in the league will wait and see how things are at the deadline and will evaluate at that point if they want to add Harris. 

Harris, who is making $9.3 million this season and is owed $8.5 million next year will be very difficult to move, especially for a player who is not playing up to his potential.

His contract does not present the advantage to other teams of dumping salary and it may take the Jazz using all or part of the $10.8 million trade exception that they received for Mehmet Okur to get a quality player in return.  

As a team, the Jazz are already working to put the trade rumors aside. Fellow guard Raja Bell recently talked about the rumors and showed support of Harris when he said, 

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"The locker room and the practice court, this is supposed to be a safe haven, after you guys [the media] leave, no disrespect intended, we don’t want to deal with that B.S. anymore. We’re here to work and to get better. Devin’s a big part of what we do." 

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With a record of 9-5, the surprising Utah Jazz do not need this added pressure and have plenty of options to help Harris through his current slump before sending him away. 

The Jazz have two veteran point guards in Earl Watson and Jamaal Tinsley who are both capable of running the offense, and rookie Alec Burks can play the point guard position as well.

Watson has outplayed Harris off the bench this season and brings energy and leadership to the second team. 

Tinsley, who has not played much this season, was signed in the off season to help out and can play additional minutes to help the team while Harris works through his struggles.

It may take a benching for Harris, but it would be less of a problem for this building team who do not need to deal with wondering if Harris is going of staying for the rest of the season. 

For now, this team needs as few diversions as possible and they need to continue working to develop on the level of play they have been at so far this season.

Continuing to worry about trade rumors will only hurt this team and are an unneeded distraction to the success they are building.