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Orlando Magic Rumors: Magic willing to match Tobias Harris ‘no matter what’

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) pushes back against Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) pushes back against Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic are still figuring out Tobias Harris‘ value and what to match when he becomes a free agent. Reportedly they will do what it takes.

The biggest decision for the Orlando Magic this summer centers around the upcoming free agency of Tobias Harris.

To this point, it is still pretty unclear what the Magic will do, how much another team might offer Harris in free agency or what the Magic might match.

Reportedly, Magic general manager Rob Hennigan made it clear on a season ticket holder teleconference that the Magic intend to re-sign Harris and will do so “no matter what.” As reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel:

"Magic GM Rob Hennigan says the club “intends” to bring back F Tobias Harris – a restricted free agent – “no matter what” the cost this summer. At $15 mill per year? Seeing is believing."

The audio from the call was played on Mike Bianchi’s radio show Friday. It is really the first public statement Hennigan has made regarding Harris’ impending free agency.

There are a few things to consider before reacting, or overreacting, to the comments.

First, Hennigan stated the team “intends” to bring back Harris. This is really not news. The Magic have reportedly made it relatively well known that they will see what the market bears for Harris and use their ability to match him in restricted free agency if the price is right on the offer sheet he gets this summer.

Harris’ market is still getting set and it had previously been reported and suggested the Magic would match any offer up to $13 million.

Second, a statement like this is again trying to depress his market and make it so the Magic might scare off some offers and make it easier for them to retain him.

These public statements are very much about posturing in negotiations.

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    • If a team — the Knicks, Hawks and 76ers are rumored to be among the teams willing to tender an offer sheet — knows the Magic are likely to match anything, they may not waste their time making an offer sheet and wrapping up that cap space (say, $13 million per year) for the time they have to give the Magic to match the offer.

    It is statements like these that will either get Harris completely overpaid to the point the Magic would not match or get Harris no offers and force him to sign a one-year qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent for the 2016 free agency bonanza.

    Third, this was a statement made to season ticket holders. So there is certainly a statement of rosy feelings and showing the fans they will do whatever it takes to keep fielding a winner and retaining the top talent already on the roster (even if right now that team is a 25-win team).

    Harris, for his part, told Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel he was encouraged by the released statements:

    "Harris told me that he views Hennigan’s comments as “a positive sign. You have to take it as a positive. That he trusts me as a player.”"

    Harris has not helped matters to make his value clearer. Even without these statements, Harris has had an up and down year. He is averaging 17.0 points per game and is shooting a career-best 36.2 percent from beyond the arc.

    Those numbers seem great, but he has not taken the next level to superstardom or as an elite scorer and, while he is improving as a defender and a rebounder, neither is at an elite level. His 16.5 PER, 54.7 percent true shooting percentage and 50.7 percent effective field goal percentage do not reflect a player ready to breakout as the star of his own team or even a secondary star.

    He may not ever become that on this team where Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic appear poised to be the key cogs to the offense for the moment. There just is not enough basketball for them plus Elfrid Payton. Not with a team that is preparing to come together and be more than just a collection of assets.

    Harris has been a big part of that conundrum all season. And his free agency this summer brings all of that philosophy to a breaking point as the team continues to dig itself out of the rebuild.

    For now, the Magic are making it publicly clear (at least to season ticketholders) that Harris will remain with the Magic moving forward.

    Next: 5 players the Orlando Magic could consider trading down for in the NBA Draft