NBA Trade Deadline: Orlando Magic open to offers for Tobias Harris

The Orlando Magic are open to trading Tobias Harris, and “not discouraging” teams from inquiring about his availability as the trade deadline approaches.

Tobias Harris has perhaps fallen short of his worth. He has regressed this season, and not just statistically. Harris is falling into a role-player realm, and that hardly justifies his contract.

There is a sense that sentiment might be felt by the Magic. The Magic are “not discouraging” offers for Harris, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

It is interesting that Marc Stein of ESPN says the Magic are not “outright shopping” Harris. I guess that would indicate a lack of value in Harris, as if the Magic wanted to rid itself of a talented 23-year old forward.

It could also mean the Magic are not dismissing deals and offers as they come in.

Harris’ lacking of a true position somewhat hurts his value. If he moves on, the team that acquires him will have to hope he can thrive in the role he is assigned.

The thing is, by his contractural status he should be a No. 2 or No. 3 option. It is hard to say he has been at that level this season given the relative mediocrity: 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game in 32 minutes a night.

At one point many of us thought Harris would blossom into a 20-plus point per game scorer. He has not.

One name we have connected with Harris has been Rudy Gay, who did in fact average 21 points per game last season. He is a proven scorer on a team that really only has one currently, one who scores with enough consistency, anyway (that would be Nikola Vucevic).

Related Story: Rudy Gay Would be Good Fit for Orlando Magic

Orlando does not necessarily have to trade Harris. He could continue to function as a role player who happens to be overpaid. It happens. That was a major criticism of Rashard Lewis.

But players get paid when they perform, and sometimes the contract demands dictate a perceived failure when it is nothing of the sort.

If Harris became a little more consistent and slightly upped his usage rate (by design, really), he could at least mostly justify the remaining $48 million and three years on his deal. The Magic sort of got a bargain on Harris with the cap rising drastically in the new collective bargaining agreement.

For now, Rob Hennigan is listening. And we take that as a sign of minor displeasure at least with what Harris has done, and what he has failed to do.

It is also a sign the Magic are thinking of making a major move for a player with a big salary. Harris is the Magic’s highest paid player.

Next: Options Abound for Orlando Magic at Trade Deadline

It needs to be a rational evaluation, in some senses. At this point Harris is playing at about replacement player level, and the Magic need to do better than that. A focus on a big that can defend seems more in order in many senses. But so are a lot of other needs.