Joe Harris injured his ankle back in mid-November and hasn't played for the Brooklyn Nets ever since. There was initial optimism that the Virginia product could be back within 4-8 weeks, but things have not gone according to plan. We have even heard reports of a setback.

Last month, Chris Haynes reported for TNT that Harris was seeking a second opinion on his ankle. That's never a great sign because it often means the first opinion recommended more surgery.

Then in early February, ESPN's Zach Lowe added some more concern during a podcast:

“This team does not look like it’s in a good place right now, I have not heard fantastic things about the chemistry. The Joe Harris situation has become really worrisome. I don’t think it’s a given that he’s coming back this year, and I definitely don’t think it’s a given he’s coming back at 100 percent and he’s a massive part of their team. The Nets are kind of a mess right now.”

Credit to Lowe for sniffing out some of the chemistry concerns. Just a week after he said that, the team shipped James Harden out of town and brought in Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.

Much of the subsequent reporting on that blockbuster deal  have illuminated a disjointed locker room in Brooklyn with James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the core.

But it has now been three months and the franchise's all-time leader in made triples, Harris, still has no timetable for his return.

And it sounds like the possibility he'll need another surgery is very much in play here as well. As the Nets gear up to win their second game in a row (following a brutal 11-game losing streak) versus the local rivals, the New York Knicks, coach Steve Nash gave a rather pessimistic update on his best spot-up shooter:

“I think everything is on the table at this point. We hope that [Harris] comes back, but we have no idea where this is gonna go at this point we're just continuing his rehab and hopefully we get some good signs, some positive signs soon, but I have no update other than that,” Nash said.

It doesn't sound like Harris is doing much on the court work either. “He's doing a lot of rehab work off the court,” continued the second-year head coach, “and then he does a little bit of court work. I'm not exactly sure how intense he can take it right now, but I do know that he's doing some light court work.”

At this point, Nets fans should be ecstatic if they simply hear Harris could be back in time for the playoffs. Because if he does need that follow-up surgery (which Nash hints at when he says “everything is on the table”) that would more than likely end his season.

The Nets made the decision not to trade him at the deadline. That should indicate at least some guarded optimism Harris can return at some point this season. If he made it far enough to return, the question would then shift to what percent of full strength he might regain.

Meanwhile, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Brooklyn plans to have Harris to practice with the team after the All-Star break and see how his ankle responds. However, as Nash mentioned, surgery remains in play.

Tough turn for Smoking Joe. The Nets really missed his shooting at times this year. There's even more pressure then on new-comer Seth Curry to fill in as a sniper. You have to wonder how much they had Harris' extended absence in mind when they struck the deal with the Sixers that included Steph's younger brother.

Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant certainly won't love hearing this update on Harris. Simmons thrives with shooting all around him and even talked about his vision for Brooklyn. If Harris can't be a part of that vision, it will be especially sad for a playmaker like Simmons who's always hunting spot up shooters.