Orlando Magic Rumors: Magic willing to match Tobias Harris up to $13 million?
The Orlando Magic have a big question to ask when Tobias Harris becomes a free agent. His summer is beginning to come into some focus as the season closes.
When it comes to the Orlando Magic’s big upcoming summer, everything seems hamstrung by Tobias Harris’ free agency.
Here is a player that is firmly entrenched (so it would seem) in Orlando’s starting lineup and has the talent and potential to be a strong offensive player. A lot of teams could use a player with his ability to score. Of course, the other parts of his game have been questionable and everyone is trying to figure out exactly what he is going to be moving forward.
And, thus, everyone is trying to figure out what to offer him. Then they have to figure out how much it will take to get him away from the Magic and prevent the Magic from matching.
Orlando has reportedly made it known they will match just about any offer, so it might take something crazy for them to let go of this asset.
Harris’ up-and-down season — 16.9 points per game, 46.2 percent field goal shooting — has not helped clear up any questions.
But as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders begins to ask what will happen this summer, Harris’ summer seems to come into some focus:
"Will the Magic pay Tobias Harris? That is the magic question. Harris has posted a solid season since the Magic tabled extension talks in October. Harris is believed to be obtainable in free agency even though the Magic plan to issue a qualifying offer and restrict his free agency. There have been a number of teams linked to Harris including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and even Atlanta Hawks. The Magic have the means to match anything offered to Harris in free agency. Given where the salary cap is headed, the Magic have to spend money and pretty soon they may have a hard time reaching the salary floor given where they are at in guaranteed money. The belief is that the Magic would match almost anything under $13 million a season, the question is will Harris get an offer sheet worth more than that number in July and will the Magic budge off their price range?"
So there are certainly some suitors who have money. Harris might have to accept a bench role to go to some of those locations. A role he has struggled with somewhat in Orlando already. It might be the role that suits him best in the long run if he wants to play for a winning team.
The number though — $13 million per year — is the first time I have seen any report suggesting the Magic’s ceiling for matching a Harris offer.
That could mean Harris receives something like a four-year, $52 million offer sheet. That would be a deal very similar to the extension Nikola Vucevic received. What could make things tricky is if a team opts to back load the deal or put a poison pill into the final year of the deal. That could make the Magic hesitate.
Who would do that with so many questions remaining about Harris and his fit in the NBA?
That is a question that comes this summer. And, after all, this is just a rumor at this point.
For sure, the Tobias Harris question is going to be the driving question for the Magic this summer as it may very well determine what they do with their offseason and any additions they make to their roster.