One week ago today, the Portland Trail Blazers traded away a future 2020 second round draft pick to acquire 22 year-old Moe Harkless from the Orlando Magic.
What does this mean for Portland and for the young small forward out of St. John’s College?
Coming into the NBA in 2012, Harkless was considered a raw talent with immense upside. Though not the most talented offensive player, he has unquestioned athleticism, hustle, and defensive skills that give him a high ceiling in the league.
In his rookie year with the Magic, Harkless started in 59 games on his way to averaging 8.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 26.0 minutes per game. He played a big role in what was a young, rebuilding Orlando team.
However, in his next two years in Orlando, he saw his minutes dip down to 24 per game his second year and only 15 per game this past season. He was blanketed in the depth chart by guys like Evan Fournier, Tobias Harris and Arron Afflalo. Many questioned why his role on the team had diminished, especially after showing promise in his rookie year with the team.
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe all Harkless needs is a fresh start with a new team to reboot his NBA career. If so, he’s got a great chance to do so in Portland on a team filled with youth that is trying to rebuild for the first time in years. Portland got him for next to nothing, giving up a protected second round pick in five years for a player once taken 15th overall in the first round by the Sixers.
Harkless, the 6’7″ small forward (with a 7-foot wingspan), will look to come into Portland and add some much needed depth on the wing for a team who just lost most of their perimeter players. He will likely come off the bench for guys like Al-Farouq Aminu and Gerald Henderson and give the team solid role player minutes.
That being said, if his upside and potential begin to show through and develop into a wider skill set, he could be competing for more minutes at some point later in the year.
The fact that he is owed just under $3 million dollars next season and was acquired for just a future second round pick makes Harkless a great gamble for this young and growing Blazers team. Their biggest need was more wing players, and while they still may look to bring in a higher caliber player via trade, GM Neil Olshey has done a good job of going out and getting guys like Harkless and Aminu to fill the holes.
I think Harkless will prove to be a solid addition for the team, especially considering his young age and his defensive upside. If nothing else, he can use this coming season as a learning year with his new team as well as make himself a better player in an attempt to play a big role for future seasons.
Whether or not he becomes a mainstay or not for the Blazers depends on how well he takes advantage of opportunities given, but he certainly has a great chance to earn the role here in Portland.
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