Why isn’t Maurice Harkless playing for the Magic right now? One rumor says it is because the coaches feel he doesn’t have the right motor to his game.
The talk of the weekend was the surprising absence of Maurice Harkless.
I wrote a lengthy piece about how this season has not gone how Harkless would have planned it after talking confidently about his role throughout the offseason and into training camp. Magic fans probably share the shock that Harkless has not been part of the rotation and that he has been surpassed on the depth chart by Willie Green and, now, Devyn Marble.
No one suspected Harkless would be a healthy scratch ever this season. They figured he would be a major part of this tam’s rotation and defensive identity.
I received more than a few comments from readers who wondered about Jacque Vaughn‘s statements when asked about Maurice Harkless that seemed to suggest Harkless was not showing the coaching staff enough on the defensive end. This was, after all, Harkless’ calling card more than his offense, which was still a work in progress for the now-22-year-old forward in his third season.
“Showing the coaching staff” enough might very well be the problem though.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders shared his thoughts in his weekly rumors chat:
"The problem is Moe does not play with “motor” – he never has. He didn’t play that way in high school. He didn’t play that way in college or at any point in his NBA career. He is very patient and methodical. He is very low key and somewhat passive as a personality and a player.That is a problem for the Magic coaching staff. They have been on Moe about playing harder, faster and more aggressively and that’s just not how Moe is wired. They have always struggled with what to do with Moe and often just park him in the corner."
We have all seen coaches like this. They want a player to look a certain way while giving effort.
This was the big knock on Tracy McGrady. He looked sleepy and everything seemed easy for him on the court. McGrady’s coach his rookie year, Darrell Walker, said he would never get off the end of the bench because of this perceived “laziness.”
Of course, some guys are just lanky. Some guys are just really athletic. Some guys just do not have the personality for that fiery, rah-rah, slap-the-floor emotion and energy coach speak sometimes demands.
Soaring Down South
Harkless is not that kind of player and not that kind of person. He is very laid back and is among the more popular players on the team socially. During Media Day though, as I noted yesterday, Tobias Harris spoke specifically about the work Harkless put in.
There were probably few players who worked as hard as Harkless this offseason. He said he worked out three times a day in the offseason and his shooting had improved dramatically from his rookie season. It seemed only the sky was the limit for this young player.
Apparently, the coach’s whims were also the limit.
For whatever reason, whether it is Harkless not performing well in practice or whether it is some actual belief from the coaches (misconception or otherwise), Harkless is squarely in the doghouse.
Kyler suggests a change of coaching staff might help Harkless. There are questions (certainly from fans) about whether Vaughn and his staff will be in Orlando for the long haul. Certainly a change of scenery where Harkless can get his chance would help even more.
That part does not seem likely as his value is at an all-time low. The Magic are not about to give away a player that potentially could help them if they can figure out how to use him right.
So he will probably frustratingly remain on the bench for the time being along with fellow draft classmate Andrew Nicholson. It could be up to their next coach — whether that is in Orlando or elsewhere — to reclaim them.
Next: How has Maurice Harkless' season turned into disaster?