It was not that long ago when the Orlando Magic’s top priority was dealing away a disgruntled Dwight Howard, and the Magic fans’ top priority was winning the break up.
When Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan signed, sealed and delivered Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, Walt Disney’s neighbors were not so pleased. That was especially true because Magic fans never heard of the one piece Hennigan insisted upon receiving in order to make the deal – Nikola Vucevic.
Now, with the way Vucevic has turned out, the only way those spiraling feelings of doubt come roaring back is if we stumble upon a flux capacitor at a garage sale.
Vucevic is one of only five players to average at least 10 rebounds in the past two seasons: Joakim Noah, Zach Randolph, Kevin Love and the unforgettable Howard. The man some have deemed as “Vucci Man” is now embracing life in Orlando after signing a four-year extension worth $53 million.
It is not quite a bad start for the Magic, considering the season does not start for another six days. Hennigan locked up the franchise big man and has plenty of cap space and young assets to work with. It is an ideal scenario.
Now what?
Well, why not take a look at deepening the pockets of the other key player who has been pivotal in the Magic’s quick turnaround? Tobias Harris needs an allowance too, you know.
With Nikola Vucevic getting his extension, attention turns toward Tobias Harris and his future. Photo by Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Harris was another prospect flying under the radar when Hennigan played Deal or No Deal with the Milwaukee Bucks’ brass. It only cost Hennigan another highly valued Magic fan favorite – J.J. Redick – but it worked itself out because Redick bolted for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency and Harris thrived in Orlando.
In his first full season in blue and white, Harris scratched in 14.6 points a game with seven rebounds per game to go along with it. Sure, his defense has not been elite, and his perimeter shooting needs to improve after posting a 25 percent year from behind the arc. But the key statistic is his age – 22.
At an age when most are leaving textbooks for financial loan payments, Harris has already racked up three years of experience and a true shooting percentage of 54.2 percent.
Hennigan has done a fine job assembling a solid, young nucleus. Now he has to keep them.
Harris’ is due about $2.3 million this year, the last year of his deal before becoming a restricted free agent.
Orlando gave Vucevic the extension in spite of the fact it could extend a qualifying offer and match any offer sheet he signed in the offseason. The point was to avoid that period because of the possibility Vucevic would get a “poison pill” contract and have all of his money backloaded – like Jeremy Lin a few years back — or the possibility a team could open a bidding war and get Vucevic well beyond the price the Magic were willing to pay.
The Magic did not want to pay Vucevic more than the league average of $13.25 million a season. It was a smart move.
A smarter move would be following the same model with a proven scorer like Harris.
Again, he may not be a candidate for defensive player of the year, but he just turned 22 in July. His game is still growing, and he has proven he can tickle the twine and clean up on the glass. Those are two very important traits.
James Harden played an average of eight more minutes than Harris last year and took about five more shots a game. Harden also started more games while Harris embraced a sixth man role. Sure, Harden’s 25 points a game is better than Harris’ 17. I am aware of that. I was on the math team in high school. However, if you give Harris as many chances to score as Harden had last season, I think the numbers would balance out a little more.
My point is Harden is getting just less than $15 million this season, and the only noticeable difference in skills is Harden’s ability to knock down threes more consistently than Harris. So, if Hennigan can get away with extending Harris for about $5 million to $8 million a year, and he develops consistency from the perimeter, then Orlando will get the same production Harden gives Houston at about half the price.
Seems pretty nice on paper, doesn’t it?
Of course anything can happen. Harris might retire tomorrow and decide to devote all of his time toward pursuing a career in Frisbee golf. But the odds are in favor of him continuing to improve and allowing the Magic to reap the rewards at a discount.
The moral of the story: lock your studs up, Hennigan. The premium rate you get right now will not be around forever.
