Orlando Magic: 3 players most likely to be moved by the trade deadline
By Luke Duffy
Orlando Magic trade deadline candidates: 2. Gary Harris
An obvious candidate here, Gary Harris is entering the final year of his current contract and has only played 20 times for the Magic since coming over alongside R.J. Hampton in a move that saw Aaron Gordon head the other way to the Denver Nuggets. At this point in time, it is hard to see him remaining a long-term piece or somebody who gets brought back when his current deal is up.
The Magic already have to figure out what to do with Hampton, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, and although Harris would actually compliment all of these guys well in the backcourt, adding him to the salary bill for the coming years doesn’t seem to make sense.
He is making $20.5 million this coming year, and if that is any indication of the kind of money Harris will be looking for again, the Magic should steer clear. With that being said, if Harris starts the season well (he has averaged 17.5 points over the course of a season in the past and is still only 27), he will attract the interest of playoff hopefuls who see scoring bursts in Harris.
Financially the Magic would have to take a similar-sized contract back (or a couple of players so the math works), but to make it worth their while if a pick or picks were attached it would be something to explore. Harris would be seen as a rental in much the same way Evan Fournier was for the Boston Celtics when they gave the Magic a pair of second-rounders for him at the deadline last season.
Another deal like that could work, even if adding on an expiring contract from that other organization has to happen. Ideally, it would be great to get a young player as part of any deal, much like Hampton for Gordon when Harris was thrown in, but right now that doesn’t seem likely. No matter how he plays though, Harris will remain a prime trade candidate this year.