Entering the 2019-20 season, Gregg Popovich had guided the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs an NBA record 22 straight seasons. The last time the franchise missed the postseason was back in 1997.

Before the campaign was suspended due to COVID-19, however, the Spurs were on their way to missing the postseason. It was one of the more shocking storylines of the season as San Antonio has been the definition of sustained excellence over a long period.

The Spurs had a record of 27-36 prior to the NBA hiatus, putting them in the 12th spot in the Western Conference standings. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are All-Stars who can score 20 points in their sleep. However, San Antonio's lack of 3-point shooting ultimately hurt them. They made only 671 shots from beyond the arc in 2019-20, which is 26th in the NBA.

With that being said, the Spurs would be wise to sign Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris this summer once the 2020 free agency period begins. The upcoming unrestricted free agent is one of the best shooters in the NBA and fits the Spurs' mold of players who flourish moving off the ball.

DeRozan has a player option for next season and the prevailing thought around the league is that he will decline it to enter free agency. San Antonio should have traded the All-Star shooting guard at the 2020 trade deadline because they're likely going to lose him and not get anything in return.

Barring a surprise, DeRozan will leave the Spurs and the team will need wing depth. Harris fits that bill and would instantly become a better fit alongside Aldridge since the big man would have more room to operate in the post. Defenses wouldn't be able to trap Aldridge down low if San Antonio has Harris and Bryn Forbes roaming around the arc at all times. Both players require undivided attention from defenders.

Before the 2019-20 season was put to a halt, Harris was averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from beyond the arc and 74.7 percent from the free-throw line. He hit 152 shots from deep in 63 games for the Nets, production the Spurs would love to have in the rugged Western Conference.

If the Spurs do watch DeRozan leave and decide to build around youngsters Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker, they will need as many 3-point shooters to space the floor. Murray and White are emerging as strong drivers who collapse defenses. With that said, having a sniper such as Harris for the two guards to kick it out to would be beneficial for Popovich.

To acquire Harris, the Spurs are likely going to have to overpay since he's going to be a hot commodity on the open market. If you can shoot the lights out of the ball in today's NBA, you're going to get paid handsomely. San Antonio should have the money to get Harris since all signs point toward the franchise getting off DeRozan's hefty contract.

If they can sign Harris, the Spurs could throw out a starting lineup that includes him alongside Murray, White, Rudy Gay and Aldridge. The 28-year-old swingman wouldn't even need the ball in his hands to succeed in San Antonio, as the zipper cuts and other offensive sets the team runs will organically create open shots for Harris.

Besides, Popovich's offense is still one of the most fluid systems in the league.