Magic Re-Sign Tobias Harris
The deal is official
From the end of last season and all throughout the summer, GM Rob Hennigan said repeatedly that he couldn’t envision a scenario where the Orlando Magic didn’t retain high-scoring forward Tobias Harris.
On Tuesday, the Magic’s intent on keeping Harris around for the foreseeable future came to fruition as the franchise and the forward inked a long-term contract extension.
Harris, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning that he could have signed an offer sheet with any other team. Orlando would have had the right to match that deal to retain the forward – something that was almost a certainty considering how much the Magic value Harris’ all-around game on the court and his leadership off of it. Harris never signed an offer sheet with another team and he and the Magic came to an agreement just days into the free-agent courting process.
The retention of Harris allows the Magic to keep together a dynamic, young core that includes center Nikola Vucevic, shooting guard Victor Oladipo, point guard Elfrid Payton, guard Evan Fournier and forward Aaron Gordon. Add to that mix new coach Scott Skiles, No. 5 draft pick Mario Hezonja and free-agent additions C.J. Watson and Jason Smith and the Magic feel like they have the athleticism and talent in place to make major strides this season.
On Tuesday, the Magic’s intent on keeping Harris around for the foreseeable future came to fruition as the franchise and the forward inked a long-term contract extension.
Harris, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning that he could have signed an offer sheet with any other team. Orlando would have had the right to match that deal to retain the forward – something that was almost a certainty considering how much the Magic value Harris’ all-around game on the court and his leadership off of it. Harris never signed an offer sheet with another team and he and the Magic came to an agreement just days into the free-agent courting process.
The retention of Harris allows the Magic to keep together a dynamic, young core that includes center Nikola Vucevic, shooting guard Victor Oladipo, point guard Elfrid Payton, guard Evan Fournier and forward Aaron Gordon. Add to that mix new coach Scott Skiles, No. 5 draft pick Mario Hezonja and free-agent additions C.J. Watson and Jason Smith and the Magic feel like they have the athleticism and talent in place to make major strides this season.
O. Cauchi
@paxer89
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