7:59pm: The Magic have officially issued a press release announcing that the team’s contract extension with Harris is done (Twitter link).
7:53pm: Veteran Magic shooting guard Gary Harris will return to Orlando, per Jeff Zillgit of USA Today Sports (via Twitter). Agents Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link) that the two sides have agreed to a two-season, $26MM contract extension.
The 27-year-old spent his first 6.5 NBA seasons in Denver after the Nuggets traded for his draft rights in 2014. Harris quickly became a valuable two-way starter with the Nuggets beginning in the 2015/16 season. His availability began to be hampered by injury issues towards the end of his Denver tenure. The 6’4″ wing holds career averages of 11.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.2 SPG, plus shooting splits of .448/.363/.812.
Denver eventually included Harris in its 2021 trade for forward Aaron Gordon. During his first full season with a lottery-bound 22-60 Magic club in 2021/22, Harris proved to be a solid veteran presence on both sides of the ball, averaging 11.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.0 SPG, plus a .434/.384/.874 slash line.
Because the calendar has yet to roll over to July 1, the NBA technically remains in the 2021/22 season. Thus, Harris was still extension-eligible today and won’t actually become a free agent. He’ll also remain trade-eligible after signing the extension, since it doesn’t exceed the CBA’s extend-and-trade limits.
Harris had previously been signed to a four-year, $84MM extension deal while with the Nuggets.
A bit expensive for him but not bad.
:(
I can see him being traded at some point before the deadline this year to a contender. That is if the Magic only want to have a 4-guard rotation of Suggs, Cole, Fultz, and Hampton
Nice deal for him. Able to visit Disney World a ton.
This is surprising, though they could use his shooting, especially after the decision at 1 overall, but I honestly thought he would end up elsewhere
He has struggled a lot the last 4 years, which even the year before that you could sort of see coming, which is why I was surprised Denver didnt trade him with a couple of others they had, plus the multiple draft assets they had at the time for a bigger piece
Was a little better recently, so good for him to get paid.
not surprising at all…most Magic fans wanted this to happen
not only did he play key 3-D role, but he’s a solid vet presence on a very young
He was efficient 57.6 TS%…hit his 3’s: 38.4 3P% on 5.0 3PAg…and played very solid high IQ 2-way bb.
…and the contract is a 1+1, 2nd year is a team option fully non-guaranteed, great contract for Orlando.
Weltman kept it a secret: Not only would he re-sign Gary Harris, but reward him for his crappy contract year.
awesome comment. weltman is more concerned with surprising people than, you know, picking great players. that paola pick… just putrid.
Actually that was an extremely uninformed comment, as is yours, both obviously made by people that clearly don’t watch the Magic.
FYI, the Banchero pick is a fantastic pick, addressing hardest to fill crucial need: an alpha 3 level scorer that can create for himself and others…at 6-10 250lb.
Smh…just stop.
Harris did not have a crappy contract year. He played his 3-D role very well; high bbIQ/low mistake efficient two way player.
57.6 TS%
38.4 3P% on 5.0 3PAg
Homer defense. Harris is decent at 3s but little else and his ceiling is reached at a moderate level and he’s not young anymore.