Magic Preseason Profile: Gary Harris Adds Veteran Presence in Orlando

Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris signed a two-year deal this offseason. However, the 29-year-old tore his meniscus earlier this summer and his status for the year is in question.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 9, 2022

Magic Preseason Profile: Gary Harris Adds Veteran Presence in Orlando /

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - Apart from Terrence Ross, Gary Harris is the oldest player on the Orlando Magic roster to begin the season.

Harris could have signed with a potential playoff contender and carved out a role with a new team in free agency this offseason, but the 29-year-old opted to stay with the Magic on a new two-year deal.

Let's take a look back at what Harris was able to produce last year, as well as what we can look forward to seeing this season.

2021-22 Season Review

Harris started 30 games in 61 appearances for the Magic, averaging 11.1 points per game while shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Harris would enter the starting lineup when Jalen Suggs was injured, or he would usually be one of the first players off the bench to create a shooting spark from the three-point line.

In his best performance of the season, Harris scored 28 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons, proving he can contribute towards a high-octane offense.

2022-23 Season Preview

Harris tore his meniscus over the offseason and his timetable to return is up in the air.

When he returns, he likely won't see much playing time with Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton and perhaps Jalen Suggs (if he becomes healthy) ahead of him on the depth chart.

That being said, Harris can still be one of the team's best three-point shooters and he adds a lot of value towards spacing, something Orlando needs to work on.

There's also a chance that Harris becomes a trade candidate at the February deadline.

While there is a world where Harris returns to form and carves out a decent role in Orlando this season, the chances are not very likely.

Check out our other Magic preseason player profiles you might have missed so far:

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Published Oct 9, 2022

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.