Orlando Magic Daily
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Checking in on last year’s former Orlando Magic players

By Joe Buckley

Oct 21, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Andrew Nicholson (44) dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Andrew Nicholson (44) dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons, Dewayne Dedmon, Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic
Apr 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34) shoots over Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) and guard Evan Fournier (10) and forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Tobias Harris

At the start of last season, Tobias Harris was one of the longest tenured Magic players and many considered him becoming the ‘number one option’ going in.

True, Nikola Vucevic was coming off a great year and warranted the same attention, but most felt this would finally be the year Harris came into his own and grew into his skills. Harris, by all accounts, is a very talented basketball player.

Last season that did not shine through for a number of reasons. Harris became more and more misused, more and more frustrated and around midseason was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova.

The Magic fanbase were split on the decision.

Harris’ potential was clear, but it was also obviously not working out on the court. The Magic did need a back up point guard at the time, so perhaps it would turn out OK.  And the Magic were making a move for cap room to make a big splash in free agency.

Others cried out that the Magic did not get fair value back. Seeing as neither Jennings nor Ilyasova are still with the Magic, and considering that all that promised free agent room only turned into Serge Ibaka (via tradde) and Bismack Biyombo, it is clear now the Magic lost the trade.

Per Game Table
Season Tm G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% eFG% FT% TRB TOV PTS
2016-17 DET 7 33.0 6.9 13.0 .527 .391 .577 .870 5.0 2.4 17.9
Career 309 28.3 5.0 10.8 .466 .327 .504 .802 5.8 1.3 13.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/8/2016.

Especially considering the kind of year Harris is already having. His scoring average jumped from 16.6 to 18.8. And that is not his only improvement.

He hs bettered himself in terms of shooting and efficiency. Harris has seen a jump in field goal percentage (46.9 to 55.1) and 3-point field goal percentage (33.5 to 45.0).

In fairness, his rebounds and assists have taken a slight dip, but it seems obvious that after taking a few months to get involved, Harris is now a fully immersed Piston, ready to help the Pistons build on their eighth seed finish last year.

Harris will forever be looked upon as what could have been whenever the Pistons play. In all fairness to him, it could be argued last year was indeed the year for him to prove himself, and only the team’s mismanagement held him back.

Looking back, one would have to say the option is clear. Given the choice, almost every Magic fan would have cancelled that trade in a heartbeat, perhaps that breakout year just got delayed by 12 months.