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Retrospective: Where Does Tobias Harris Rank In All-Time Small Forwards?

By Brett David Roberts

Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) pushes back Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) pushes back Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 105-103. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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6. Trevor Ariza

Screen Shot 2015-05-05 at 5.57.03 PM
Screen Shot 2015-05-05 at 5.57.03 PM /

“Trevor Ariza is a jumpshot away from being an All-Star.”

Do those words sound familiar? It was what Trevor Ariza’s agent said regarding his client when he joined the Orlando Magic. It was not a colossal stretch, but it was a haunting one.

Trevor Ariza spent the first part of his NBA career devoid of any shooting ability — and his career path could have been eerily reminiscent of the player who began this slide show, Jerry Reynolds.

But Ariza did develop a jumper. It just did not happen while he was in Orlando. In fact, it happened the exact next season when the Magic faced their former small forward in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Ariza battered the Magic as a member of the L.A. Lakers, and it became another harrowing reminder of what can happen when teams give up on a guy.

Ariza’s standout season with the Washington Wizards that led to his return to Houston again painted the picture of that fringe All-Star talent the Magic just never saw — never saw in blue and white, anyway.

With the Magic, Ariza shot almost no threes his first season, while improving to a more reliable 33 percent in 2007-08 with the Lakers. Given that Ariza already was good at getting to the basket, becoming a threat from the corner was all he really needed to become an elite role player.

The Houston Rockets even expected more, attempting to make him a No. 1 option type in 2010 with Yao Ming constantly on the shelf, but he floundered, shooting just 39 percent from the floor and averaging 15 points per game in 36 minutes a night.

Ariza is perfectly suited to be a “3-and-D” guy, and with the Wizards in 2014, he found his true calling. Ariza averaged 14.4 points and six rebounds while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc.

Orlando never saw that guy, though he did average about nine points and four boards per game in 2007.

Ariza’s placement here is an indication of what he is now, not necessarily what he was with Orlando. Although, his defensive play and role within the team still warrant him cracking this top-10.

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