(PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.)
The Pistons and the Magic swung a pretty big trade. Here we go from Michael Scotto:
Sources: Detroit Pistons have discussed a deal to acquire Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 16, 2016
And it has since been made official.
Stan Van Gundy is forming a nice core there. Harris is an improved defender and a guy that can post. He’s not exactly lighting it up from behind the arc this season (.311) but he is capable of it (last year, he shot .364). There is potential that Harris can thrive in Van Gundy’s system.
As for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova? Magic coach Scott Skiles gets players that he likes and is familiar with and got rid of a player he doesn’t seem to know how to utilize and is familiar with. It was only a matter of time for Jennings since Reggie Jackson was acquired to be the starting point guard for the Motor City. Ilyasova is a stretch four and little else on the basketball court. But Skiles had those two when they were all part of that Fear The Deer Bucks playoff run in 2010.
So there’s potential here for Detroit while Orlando got cap relief. Are the Magic going to punt this season (as they are going through a horrible 2016) or try for a playoff push with these players Skiles is familiar with? Their record is too good to be at the bottom of the barrel; the Magic are only 3.5 games behind the 8th seed. I think this may be a playoff push but I’m not sure I like this trade for Orlando.
Harris, who re-signed with the Magic for four years and $64 million, is averaging 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Jennings, a free agent after this season, is averaging 6.8 points and 3.0 assists in 23 games off the bench this year. Ilyasova is a free agent after the 2016-17 season; he’s averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds this season. Ersan is shooting .363 from three.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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