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Portland Trail Blazers: Maurice Harkless says career season was ‘pretty good’ but ‘inconsistent’

By Raymond Simms

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 01: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers walks back to the bench during a time out of their game against the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals for the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 01, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 01: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers walks back to the bench during a time out of their game against the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals for the 2016 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 01, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless made big strides as a player in 2016-17.

While the Portland Trail Blazers collectively took a step back in 2016-17, forward Maurice Harkless got better. So much so, that I declared him the team’s most improved player back in April. In a number of ways, the 24-year-old from Queens proved that he can be a major role player for this transitioning franchise.

The most noticeable jump in Harkless’ stats was his scoring. He averaged 10.0 points per game in 2016-17. It was the first time in his career that he averaged double-digits. The 8.1 attempts per game and 50.3 percent shooting from the field it took to reach it were also career-highs.

Harkless had 40 double-digit scoring games in 2017, the most of his career. He had three 20-point games, including two instances of his season-high 23. Harkless even went on an 11-game double-digit scoring streak that lasted from Nov. 17 through Dec. 7.

His improvement from three-point range was a major source of his rise in scoring. Harkless shot 35.1 percent from three on 2.5 attempts per game in 2016-17. The average number of attempts is a career-high, but the percentage isn’t. Harkless managed to shoot 38.3 percent from outside in 2013-14 with the Orlando Magic. However, that was completed on only 1.9 attempts per game.

The 35.1 percent was a sizable jump from the 27.9 percent he shot in 2015-16. Harkless shot a brutal 17.9 percent from three in 2014-15.

But Harkless had a monetary incentive to improve his range. He would receive a $500,000 bonus in 2016-17 if he kept his three-point percentage above 35.0 percent. Harkless was at 35.1 percent following the Blazers’ Apr. 4 loss to the Utah Jazz. His solution? Abstain from taking threes for the final four games of the regular season.

The bonus was secured, fans and media got a good laugh out of it and Harkless was able to foot the bill the next time he went out with his teammates.

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Maurice Harkless also had the biggest team role of his career. He started a career-high 69 games out of the 77 he played. He also averaged a career-high 28.9 minutes per game. The additional minutes surely gave him more time to display his skills and a longer leash to improve his game.

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Harkless had the third-most starts on the team. Naturally, he trailed team stars Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. However, it was particularly impressive because he was starting ahead of wings Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner, two players with much higher salaries.

Like Crabbe and Turner, Harkless was in the first year of a new deal. Crabbe had seven starts and made $18.5 million in 2016-17. Turner had 12 starts and made $16.4 million. But by contrast, Harkless made only $8.9 million and started almost four times as many games as the other two combined.

In addition to a solid scoring season, Harkless also fielded career highs in assists (1.2) and rebounds (4.4) per game. His rebounding total in 2017 (341 total in 77 games) just inched out his previous personal best during his rookie year (335 in 76 games).

Even with these promising numbers, Harkless still wasn’t pleased with the outcome of Portland’s 41-41 season. He stated as much at his April exit interview.

"“[The season] was a little disappointing. I think it was pretty inconsistent, as a whole. I think we were all year. It wasn’t the year we wanted. But I think we found a way to make something happen the second half of the season. I think that we did a good job in the second half.”"

Admittedly, this interview came a day after being swept by the eventual world champion Golden State Warriors. Harkless managed to score double-digits in the first two games, but did so while shooting 37 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three. The final two games were a power outage as he only managed three points total in that season-ending stretch.

He still acknowledged his own improvement, despite his disappointment.

"“I think I made progress from last year. I think I still was a little bit inconsistent at times. But overall I think I had a pretty good season.”"

The Magic stunted Harkless’ growth in his first three NBA seasons. However, he seems to be trending up again after two years with the Portland Trail Blazers.

But Harkless has not been immune to trade rumors as the summer transaction market starts to heat up. ESPN‘s Ian Begley reported a rumor in early June that would send Harkless to his hometown as a member of the New York Knicks. However, those talks seemed to have died down for the moment.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

Maurice Harkless grew as an impact role player in 2016-17. If he remains with the Portland Trail Blazers, he has shown he has more to give the team.

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