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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 facts you should know about Harry Giles

By Stevie Cozens

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 11: Harry Giles III #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after forcing a turnover in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at Moda Center on December 11, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 11: Harry Giles III #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after forcing a turnover in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at Moda Center on December 11, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Fact #4 – he redshirted his entire NBA rookie season

After being selected 20th by the Blazers in the 2017 Draft, then traded to the Kings, Giles was given four months to recover fully from his previous injuries, as the Kings announced he would return in January 2018.

When January rolled around, the Kings then announced he would miss his entire rookie season to focus on injury prevention, as he hoped to get himself into the best possible shape to begin his NBA career.

Fact #5 – the Sacramento Kings declined his fourth-year rookie option

Giles then made his NBA debut in the 2018/19 season, showing some promise on a Kings team that surprised everyone by finishing close to .500 and narrowly missing out on the playoffs.

He had an up and down year, as he missed the last portion of the season with an injury, but got better as the season wore on in terms of his play, and statistical production.

Post the All-Star break, he averaged 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. This was impressive production in just 18 minutes, and he was part of a Kings team that looked like it had a big future in the NBA.

But, the Kings, after Giles had played just 58 games for them, strangely declined his fourth-year rookie option.

This effectively meant that he would become a restricted free agent a year earlier. In the 2019 off-season, the Kings then paid DeWayne Dedmon and Richaun Holmes, signaling their intention to put Giles at the back of the big man rotation.

Interestingly, injuries to Marvin Bagley and Holmes and Dedmon being traded, meant that Giles had to play in the 2020 season; he ended up starting 17 games,

He had a strong second half to the 2020 season, averaging 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds post the All-Star break.

The Kings had put themselves in a bad situation where Giles was starting to perform well even though they had declined the last year of his rookie deal.

Now, before the 2021 season, Giles has walked from the Kings and signed with the Blazers.

As an explosive backup big who can pass and shoot, he has the perfect opportunity to relaunch his NBA career with the Blazers. Giles is just 22-years-old, his NBA career has just begun.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: 3 long-term takeaways from the Blazers’ preseason play. dark