Mavs And Devin Harris Agree To Extension

The Dallas Mavericks and point guard Devin Harris agreed to a five-year contract extension today. Harris, the fifth pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, has spent his entire three-year career with the Mavericks after being acquired from Washington in draft-day trade.

“I feel good about the commitment for another five years,” Harris said after a morning workout American Airlines Center practice court. “Hopefully now we can run with it.”

Harris averaged career highs last season in points (10.2), assists (3.7), rebounds (2.5), steals (1.2) and minutes (26.0). He also played in 80 games, with 61 starts, shot 49.2 percent from the field and 82.4 percent from the line – all career bests.

The five-year extension, which begins after this season, locks Harris up through 2012-13. Harris has played in a key role in the Mavericks reaching the 2006 NBA Finals and finishing with the NBA’s best record last season.

“Devin is a vital part of our core and has played a key role in our success,” Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. “We are excited about his future in a Mavericks uniform.”

Harris looks to take his game to the next level going into his fourth season.

“I’m feeling refocused and refreshed,” he said. “I’ve been working on fine-tuning a lot of things. Of course you’re going to shoot 1,000 jumpers a day and I’ve also been working on going left. More than that I’m learning how to control the game better by watching a lot of film.”

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson has referred to Harris as his starting point guard and Harris is approaching the season with the same expectation. That doesn’t mean Harris is taking starting for granted.

“Nothing is given,” Harris said. “You have to come into camp ready to work hard. I don’t want anything to be given to me. I have that mindset and hopefully this will be the year for me.”

Harris is no stranger to the first team, having started 61 times last year. “I want that full 82,” he said.

source : NBA.com