Magic Guard Named Target for Knicks
The New York Knicks are preparing for free agency to begin on June 30 and they are targeting specific players around the league to join their team.
Among the players the team could look to sign is Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris.
"If the Knicks want a potential Quentin Grimes replacement, Harris has shot 39.4 percent from three the past three years for the Orlando Magic and has shown flashes of his past defense and finishing. This could be a smart gamble for New York to add some wing depth off the bench," SNY's David Vertsberger writes.
Harris, 29, averaged just 6.9 points per game this past season with the Magic, the lowest total he's had since his rookie year with the Denver Nuggets. However, that isn't quite indicative of the impact he could have.
Harris is still a strong 3-point shooter, making 37 percent of his looks from downtown this past season with the Magic. He's also a plus-defender, which is something coach Tom Thibodeau would appreciate.
Harris isn't going to be a microwave scorer like he used to be, but with Alec Burks entering free agency this summer, the Knicks are going to need an affordable shooting guard off the bench. He may not be dropping 20+ in a playoff game like Burks did, but he can defend really well, and that could give more balance to the Knicks in the backcourt.
Jalen Brunson is perfectly capable of leading the way and shouldering the load on the offensive end of the floor. That's why a 3-and-D complementary player like Harris works so well for the Knicks. He can space the floor and give Brunson room to drive while also giving him a confident option to kick out to if he gets doubled or finds a bad look.
Harris also won't cost the Knicks a whole lot. He's coming off a two-year, $26 million contract with the Magic, but chances are he won't command that kind of money in free agency this time around. Perhaps a contract worth about $8 million per year with a potential team option for the second season is what could woo Harris to the Big Apple.
JEREMY BRENER
Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.