Gary Harris on summer trade rumors: “You can’t take it personally”

The Denver Nuggets reportedly dangled Gary Harris in an attempt to acquire Kevin Love in a trade this summer.
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Gary Harris helped the Nuggets spoil Tony Romo night in Dallas. (Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)

The Denver Nuggets reportedly dangled Gary Harris in an attempt to acquire Kevin Love in a trade this summer.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe both reported in July that Denver made Harris available in a three-team deal that would've sent Love to Denver, Paul George to Cleveland and Harris to Indiana.

But the trade reportedly fell through.

The Nuggets wound up signing Paul Millsap to plug the hole at power forward and hung onto Harris, who in his third NBA season broke out in a big way.

Was Harris bothered by hearing his name in trade talks? He was asked about that Tuesday after he showed off the team's new uniforms.

Here's what he said:

"There are some mixed emotions, but at the end of the day it’s out of my control. I really don’t stress about it too much because it’s either I’m gonna stay or I’m gonna leave. It’s pretty simple. I’m glad I’m still here, and I’m looking forward to it."

Harris added that "you can't take it personally."

"It’s part of it," he said. "At least my name was brought up. I guess that’s kind of a good thing in a way. It is what it is. I don’t think too much about it."

Last season, Harris averaged career highs in points per game (14.9), assists per game (2.9), field goal percentage (42%) and 3-point percentage (42%). He morphed into one of the best outside shooters in basketball and showed off impressive chemistry alongside center Nikola Jokic.

Harris followed that up by playing a part in recruiting Millsap to Denver this offseason. He flew to Atlanta and was involved in the team's pitch to sign the veteran big man. Denver ended up signing Millsap to a three-year deal worth $90 million.

Harris and Millsap should both be starters on a Nuggets team that's trying to build on a 40-win season and make the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

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