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3 Orlando Magic players who would have excelled in the Playoffs

By Luke Duffy

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 01: Markelle Fultz #20, Gary Harris #14 and Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic speak against the Philadelphia 76ersat Wells Fargo Center on February 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 01: Markelle Fultz #20, Gary Harris #14 and Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic speak against the Philadelphia 76ersat Wells Fargo Center on February 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Gary Harris of the Orlando Magic looks to shoot against the New York Knicks. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Gary Harris of the Orlando Magic looks to shoot against the New York Knicks. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

3 Orlando Magic players who would have excelled in the Playoffs.

3. Gary Harris

There is no better place to start here then with swingman Gary Harris, who had himself a solid season with the Magic when he was not out of the rotation through injury.

Imagine if the Los Angeles Lakers had Harris coming off their bench now as they stare down a series with the Golden State Warriors. They feel like they are one shooter away from being a real threat to win it all.

Similarly, the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, two teams who saw their championship dreams end early, could have done with Harris when some of their more established players went cold or didn’t come looking for the ball in later games.

Harris shot 43.1 percent from deep during the season, by far a career high. He did this on 4.5 attempts per night, and while that number would have been easily halved in the postseason, you can bet he would have made enough of the shots he did take in one game to make a difference.

Even better for Harris, he could have done this both as the Magic’s starting 2-guard in a series, although he would have been of more use to a plethora of other teams still in the postseason hunt.

Marcus Smart and Derrick White combined for 16 points in the Boston Celtics’ Game 1 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. If you gave Harris 15 of their minutes put together, he could have made something happen.

Luckily for Harris, and like Ross before him, it seems likely he is going to get a chance to prove himself in the playoffs again in the near future. Most likely while playing for a different team.