Orlando Magic: Is Tobias Harris All-Star Or All Talk?

For a team that finished the season as poorly as the Orlando Magic did last year, you would think the main priority would be getting the players into the gym to work on improving in any way they can. Simply keeping their heads down, putting the work in and quietly striving to improve. The aim right now should be simply finishing better than .500. This would be seen as a positive step in the right direction. Tobias Harris, though, has other ideas. The 21-year-old who was traded to the Magic from the Milwaukee Bucks in the middle of last season feels he can morph into an All-Star this year.

(NBA.com photo)

These are heady words from a player who saw limited minutes while a member of the Bucks. But his play since arriving in Orlando would suggest a player with the potential to certainly reach the level of some of the better players in the league. During April of last season for example, the former  Tennessee Volunteers “point forward” averaged 19.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, numbers that make you sit up and take notice. Although the Magic finished the season horribly, on a personal level Harris saw his contribution and ability as one of the few bright spots on the team. His recent comments about becoming an All-Star have divided opinion, though, and can be viewed in two different ways going forward.

First, there are those who feel that Harris has stepped up to become the leader of this very young ball club. Yes his comments may appear a little outspoken, especially given the position the Magic find themselves in, but he is trying to forge a new identity for the team. His play to this point certainly warrants him being talked about as a leader going forward. Since coming on board he has played well and said all of the right things to the media. It may not be clear to see, but this really is an exciting time to be associated with the Magic and Harris obviously feels this way, too. Proclaiming he can be an All-Star may be scoffed at by many, but at least it gets people talking about the Magic again, creating a little bit of a buzz both within the media and with the fans. He has come out with guns blazing and in order for a team in the Magic’s position to turn their fortunes around, they need a player like Tobias Harris to make that happen. Confidence is infectious in the NBA, after all.

Then there are the other people out there, those who believe the comments made by Harris to be both silly and naive. Surely a team as poor as the Magic should be focused on getting better collectively and not have one player mouthing off about how good he can be personally. Some players in the league are cocky when their achievements to this point don’t warrant such behavior. Individuals like Brandon Jennings and J.R. Smith run their mouths more often than they should and Harris does not want to fall into that category, as well. His main focus should be on getting in the gym and working out and leaving others to take note of his improved play should it come. Nobody expects Orlando to be up to much this coming season, which allows rookies to come in and make mistakes as they get better. As a result of Harris’ words, a spotlight may be thrown over what the team does on a nightly basis when that was not necessary.

Whichever side you come down on in this argument, there are valid points to both sides. Harris is good and the Magic need a voice right now to lead them out of the dark. There are, however, far more players ahead of him in the queue to be named an All-Star right now and this shouldn’t be his concern, anyway. So what do you think, a leading light going forward for the Magic or a talented player who is talking a big game too soon?

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