Magic Report Cards: Gary Harris Takes Step Back

Gary Harris had one of his worst statistical seasons for the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener | May 18, 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (14) goes to the basket against / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO — Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris is only 29 years old, but he was the second-oldest player on the roster behind Joe Ingles.

Harris embraced the role of team veteran, playing in a multitude of roles during the season. By the end of the year, he was in the starting lineup as a 3-point specialist and defensive presence.

Harris's defense was certainly his strong point for the season, helping the Magic stay among the top teams for defensive rating all season long. However, he averaged 6.9 points per game, his lowest mark since his rookie year with the Denver Nuggets.

Harris is a free agent this summer, and the Magic have to decide whether or not to bring him back. With Anthony Black and Jett Howard coming off their rookie seasons not playing in the rotation, it's likely that the Magic try to make room to get them some minutes, which could result in Harris's exit from Orlando.

Harris made $13 million this season with the Magic, and if he were to return, it would have to be at a discounted rate. But the veteran should receive interest around the league, putting Orlando in a tough spot if it wishes to bring him back.

Harris has value, but most of it doesn't show up in the box score, making him a difficult choice for the Magic this offseason.

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Published May 18, 2024

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.