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League executives believe New York Knicks will target Tobias Harris

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 30, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8), guard Evan Fournier (10) and Tobias Harris (12) defend Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) during the second half at Amway Center. Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 109-86. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8), guard Evan Fournier (10) and Tobias Harris (12) defend Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) during the second half at Amway Center. Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 109-86. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Another report has come out citing league executives that states the New York Knicks will target Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris in free agency.

Free agency is fast approaching and big decisions will need to be made by the Magic and by teams around the league.

Orlando particularly has one of the bigger restricted free agents on the market in small forward Tobias Harris. The Magic have reportedly made it known they will match just about any offer, so extricating him from the team could be difficult. Of course, that could be a smokescreen to hold off potential suitors.

One suitor appears to continue to pop up and may not be afraid of the risk of restricted free agency, forcing the Magic into a difficult decision.

Another report popped up connecting the New York Knicks to Long Island-native Tobias Harris (via Marc Berman of the New York Post):

"Despite all the talk about the Knicks’ 2015 cap space, several league executives think they’re going to have a hard time landing players given their bleak situation. They do believe the Knicks have a legitimate shot at two guys — Long Island’s Tobias Harris and Monroe."

Greg Monroe might be the prize if the Knicks whiff on Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge in this summer, as they are expected to. Monroe is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after the Pistons gave him only their qualifying offer and no one picked him up as a restricted free agent, afraid the Pistons would match any offer.

Harris could very well end up in the same situation.

The Magic and Harris reportedly had brief negotiations with the Magic giving Harris a low offer for an extension and relying on this season and the market to set his price.

So far, Harris has had an up-and-down season making the gamble seem worth it. Harris is averaging 17.0 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting and 50.5 percent effective field goal percentage. He has shown improvement as a 3-point shooter and has made small improvements elsewhere in his game.

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    • Harris’ problem, especially when it comes to the Knicks, remains in his ability to work without the ball and get others involved. He has a 23.1 percent usage rate, meaning he nearly a quarter of his team’s plays end with him having the ball for either a shot or a turnover, and a lowly 9.8 percent assist rate. In fairness to Harris, that is a career high assist rate.

    The other issue for him is if he were to join the Knicks, he would most likely be backing up Carmelo Anthony off the bench. This season, Harris has been significantly worse when he is not a starter — 17.7 points per game, 51.8 percent effective field goal percentage as a starter compared to 10.8 points per game, 35.7 percent effective field goal percentage as a reserve, albeit in just five reserve appearances.

    There have also been plenty of charges that the Magic play better as a team when Harris is out of the lineup entirely.

    At 22 years old, there is still time to improve.

    The unfortunate part for the Magic is that now is the time to assess his value. Harris is going to get a dollar amount put to his name this summer in free agency and the Magic will have to make the difficult decision to match and make him a part of this team’s core or let him walk and receive nothing (or very little) in return.

    The Knicks reportedly appear poised to make a run at the young forward. If they throw an offer the Magic do not want to match, then it will be time to let him go.

    Next: How the NBPA's phasing rejections affects Magic's free agent plans