The Magic aren’t shopping Tobias Harris, but they aren’t discouraging teams for making offers for the combo forward either, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Executives from other teams believe the Magic are open to any offers that would help add veterans, Stein adds (on Twitter). That apparently includes entertaining the notion of trading Harris, who’s just months removed from re-signing for four years and $64MM.
Magic GM Rob Hennigan recently cited the youthfulness of the team’s roster for its struggles of late, though Magic players said before the season that it wouldn’t be an excuse. Sunday’s win over the Hawks came at the end of a 2-15 stretch that’s knocked the team to the fringes of the playoff race. Orlando is four games back of the eighth-place Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings.
Harris has seen his role in the offense shrink under new coach Scott Skiles, as he’s attempted three fewer shots per game than he did last year. His scoring is thus down to 13.7 points a night from his career-high mark of 17.1 last season despite a nearly identical field goal percentage. Harris is shooting much worse from 3-point range, however. The former 19th overall pick showed vast improvement in that category last season, when he nailed 36.4% of his attempts from behind the arc, but this season he’s only shooting 31.1% on 3-pointers, close to his career percentage.
Harris spent his first season and a half in the NBA playing under Skiles on the Bucks, but Harris hasn’t raised any sort of fuss about the coach this season, at least not publicly, and Skiles spoke over the summer of a strong relationship with the 23-year-old.
The Kings reportedly had a max offer sheet lined up for Harris before he re-signed with Orlando on a deal that’s worth about $6MM less than the max over the life of the contract. The Magic would apparently have been unwilling to match a max offer. Detroit and Boston were reportedly the leading contenders for him heading into free agency, with his hometown Knicks having apparently planned a run and the Lakers, Sixers and Hawks linked to him, too.
What should the Magic demand in return for Harris? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
The output that got from Fournier and Gordon on Sunday shows they can be effective without Harris. They would probably require a package of players, one of whom is a defensive-minded veteran who could influence the way the team plays at that end of the floor.
magic need a better game manager at point guard, and they need a shot blocker.
so it sounds like brandon jennings and marcus morris would work right?
Despite the strong showing of Vucevic over the past few seasons, I believe the Magic still need to acquire a star forward to pair with the All-Star big man. With the Pacers struggles of late, this would be the perfect trade:
Magic acquire Paul George in exchange for Tobias Harris, Mario Hezonja and a draft pick.
Lol
hehehehehe
Despite the strong showing of Vucevic, I believe the Magic need to acquire a star forward to pair with the All-Star big man. The Pacers struggles of late could also call for roster shakeup:
Magic acquire Paul George in exchange for Tobias Harris, Mario Hezonja, and a draft pick.
For Anthony and so on and for in a Coach.
“I think 25 games of JJ Redick is worth trading for Tobias Harris”
Tobias to sixers for Noel. We need someone to protect the rim
3 Team Trade
Magic Aquire: Rudy Gay, Aaron Brooks, Taj Gibson
Bulls Aquire: Evan Fournier, Channing Frye
Kings Aquire: Tobias Harris, 2016 1st rd pick
Why:
The Magic need some productive veterans. They need a pure scorer, back up pg, and a low post defender. The Bulls need more perimeter shooting and they have 4 pg’s (3 serviceable back ups) so they could do without Brooks. Fournier is a good scorer and can help out while Butler sits out with his imjury. Tobias would fit well in Sac and almost anywhere. Tobias could be the odd man out, as Orlando is looking at the big picture. Evan could be a FA after this season, so you don’t want to lose him and get nothing in return.
Dude the Magic are giving up way too much in that deal, and why in the world would the Kings be getting a 1st round pick in that deal?
Giving up too much? lol. So you’re saying Frye is worth 8 mill a year, Harris is worth 13 mill. They can lose Fournier to free agency. My first choice would be a 2nd rd pick, if they say no, then add 1st rd. That trade makes sense. You’re being pessimistic, cuz you didn’t think of it.lol it’s cool tho
Yes it’s giving up too much. Frye’s contract is valuable in many GMs eyes and we don’t need productive veterans at this time. The point of trading Tobias is to free up minutes for the two players that need more development time, Gordon and Hezonja. Bringing in Gay and Gibson is going to tie up more money in our payroll that we need to resign Oladipo and then eventually Gordon and Payton. Trade Tobias for a veteran shot blocker. Then resign Fournier in the offseason to be the 6 man or draft/sign one. Our lineup next year should be Payton, Dipo, Hezonja, Gordon, and Vooch
Ok, maybe you’re right, Ken. I’m just being impatient cus it’s our 4th losing season in a row. I like that starting lineup. I would say start Fournier over Hezonja but Evan fits the role of providing a spark off the bench.