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As a fan of the Toronto Raptors, I have to cling to every glimmer of positivity just to remain sane. And after what has essentially been a five-month long streak of gloom and idling, I may have finally encountered a source of hope. Here’s my line of reasoning:
1. Scott Skiles has come up in rumors as the front-runner to coach the Orlando Magic next season.
2. Skiles reportedly had a poor relationship with Tobias Harris, who he coached as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.
3. Harris is a restricted free agent, and was going to prove difficult for the Magic to re-sign regardless.
4. Harris is a fantastic player, and at age 22 has plenty of upside. He’s just what the Raptors need.
There are plenty of “ifs” that stand in the way of the Raptors signing Harris, I acknowledge. The Magic have expressed the desire to match any other contract offered, meaning they value Harris highly. Perhaps they plan to patch things up between him and Skiles. Skiles is also not locked into the head coaching job; he’s just the “favorite” as things currently stand. Finally, even if Harris is made available to other teams, it’s possible someone other than the Raptors will offer him a crazy contract. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, despite his current wealth of salary cap space, is not typically one for brash decisions.
But if all these dominos fall into place, Harris is exactly what the Raptors need. He is a legitimate small forward who can defend players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, in stark contrast to the Raptors’ current wings Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan. He can also be a stretch four, and the Raptors’ roster has a rather large hole at the power forward spot. Most importantly, he’s young and potentially undervalued by the league; these types of players don’t come around often, but are crucial for franchises that want to take the next step.
If the Raptors nab Harris somewhere in the $10-13 million range, I’d be ecstatic. With the salary cap going up due to the TV deal, that contract will look fantastic in short order. I know it sounds crazy, but I think Harris will be a top-20 player in a couple years, which would more than justify paying him in the mid-teens. The 2015 offseason is a golden opportunity for the Raptors to reset their future, and the first big step may have just been made possible.
Casey Sherman is the Toronto Raptors Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @shermham
