Woj: Magic Trade Harkless to Blazers

[SwishSquared]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 37m37 minutes ago

Orlando is trading forward Moe Harkless to Portland for a future second-round pick, league source tells Yahoo Sports.I'm guessing this pick is protected (like the one the Mavs gave up for Zaza). If so, I like this move. Dude hasn't really played and this Blazers team will have a ton of PT for him to try to grow as a player. He might be awful if he's barely played for this long, but this seems like a low risk move. At worst, he helps the Blazers tank.

Also, OKC hasn't matched Kanter yet, per Woj.

[Dreamin]

Someone spin me a story on this Harkless fella

[KNOW1EDGE]

What kinda story you looking for?

I don't know much about him other than I sing his name to the tune of Kanye West's "how could you be so heartless?"

HOW COULD YOU BE MOE HARKLESS???

[HylianNightmare]

Breakout season incoming for mo, sad to see him go

[outbreak]

Possibly great addition for the Blazers. He's struggled in Orlando but has still shown the occasional flash of potential as a defender with the athleticism to be a decent driver. He may never reach that though because at times he looks like he doesn't care about basketball but a new situation and consistent minutes could help him ALOT. I thought we'd hold on to him and see how he did under Skiles before deciding on moving him so cheaply but I guess they need to free up minutes for Hezonja and Gordon somehow.

I don't expect him to be a top tier player at all but I wouldn't be surprised if he looks much better this year in portland.

[Dreamin]

What kinda story you looking for?

I don't know much about him other than I sing his name to the tune of Kanye West's "how could you be so heartless?"

HOW COULD YOU BE MOE HARKLESS???

That was the story I never knew I needed but was looking for all along.

[Dreamin]

I don't expect him to be a top tier player at all but I wouldn't be surprised if he looks much better this year in portland.


Works for me, more young pieces to build up.

[Nash]

What kinda story you looking for?

I don't know much about him other than I sing his name to the tune of Kanye West's "how could you be so heartless?"

HOW COULD YOU BE MOE HARKLESS???
:roll: :roll: :roll: :applause: :applause:
I always sing that song whenever I hear his name.

[outbreak]

Meanwhile at Andrew Nicholson's house

http://myhereandthere.com/files/2011/05/waiting-for-the-phone-to-ring.jpg

If Harkless was moved I imagine they tried to move Nicholson first and had no takers.

[KNOW1EDGE]

:roll: :roll: :roll: :applause: :applause:
I always sing that song whenever I hear his name.

[QUOTE=Dreamin]That was the story I never knew I needed but was looking for all along.[/QUOTE

I think after you hear it, there is no way you can ever go back. Every time you hear his name you will sing it to the tune of Kanye West's song. Lol

And as for him as a player, I like his potential, I like the move. Low-risk, medium/high-reward

[outbreak]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Unsure-Larry-David.gif

Stolen from elsewhere but this gif perfectly sums up Harkless's career.

[JohnMax]

"How could you be Moe Harkless?" - Kanye West

[outbreak]

"How could you be Moe Harkless?" - Kanye West

Thanks for being slow to the story TMZ

[RoseCity07]

Nice solid move. Olshey is doing a nice job this summer. I like what I see.

That Kanter signing would have been terrible though.

[wang4three]

Always felt like the guy should just be used for defensive purposes only. Like a Thabo Sefolosha, Demarll Carroll, type.

[outbreak]

Always felt like the guy should just be used for defensive purposes only. Like a Thabo Sefolosha, Demarll Carroll, type.
Yeah that's the ideal for him, I think part of Orlando letting him go for next to nothing it also that Marble looks like he will be that kind of player for cheaper and with a jump shot.

[SwishSquared]

Yeah that's the ideal for him, I think part of Orlando letting him go for next to nothing it also that Marble looks like he will be that kind of player for cheaper and with a jump shot.Is Skiles going to give some mins to the younger guys who haven't really had a shot before? Like will Nicholson get mins now that O'Quinn left?

[outbreak]

Is Skiles going to give some mins to the younger guys who haven't really had a shot before? Like will Nicholson get mins now that O'Quinn left?
Don't know about Nicholson, he said Vaughn had asked him to shoot more which might explain why he shot the ball no matter where he was on the court instead of posting up. Nicholson will still be third or even fourth string with Frye, Smith and possibly Gordon above him in the pf rotation depending on where they try and fit Gordon in this season.

[SwishSquared]

Don't know about Nicholson, he said Vaughn had asked him to shoot more which might explain why he shot the ball no matter where he was on the court instead of posting up. Nicholson will still be third or even fourth string with Frye, Smith and possibly Gordon above him in the pf rotation depending on where they try and fit Gordon in this season.Oh yeah I forgot about the Smith signing. It seems Henny tries to overpay for a vet with a good attitude every summer now, which I understand.

I kinda would like to see you guys start AG so he can develop. I know Frye gives you a better chance of winning immediately, but Gordon def needs PT. Is Fournier going to be the de facto backup PG?

Is the planned 2nd unit Fournier-Hezonja-Marble-Frye-Smith?

[outbreak]

Oh yeah I forgot about the Smith signing. It seems Henny tries to overpay for a vet with a good attitude every summer now, which I understand.

I kinda would like to see you guys start AG so he can develop. I know Frye gives you a better chance of winning immediately, but Gordon def needs PT. Is Fournier going to be the de facto backup PG?

Is the planned 2nd unit Fournier-Hezonja-Marble-Frye-Smith?

Fournier isn't a point guard really.

The second unit will likely be some combination of CJ Watson, Fournier, Hezonja, Gordon, Dedmon and Smith out of the gates, I'm hoping if we start Frye at the beginning of the season Gordon moves in to that spot by the all star break. I see him and Harris working well together as interchangeable forwards as they can both play the 3 or the 4. All depend on if Gordon can bring some of his offensive confidence to regular season though. Dedmon will see minutes because he is our only legit big man defender at the moment. It's a pretty full rotation and I don't think anyone knows for sure who will be playing where.

Marble, Harvey and Nicholson will be the third stringers.

The biggest question with letting harkless go for next to nothing is why do it now and not the all star break? Makes me think we need a roster spot for one of the summer league guys.

[SwishSquared]

Fournier isn't a point guard really.

The second unit will likely be some combination of CJ Watson, Fournier, Hezonja, Gordon, Dedmon and Smith out of the gates, I'm hoping if we start Frye at the beginning of the season Gordon moves in to that spot by the all star break. I see him and Harris working well together as interchangeable forwards as they can both play the 3 or the 4. All depend on if Gordon can bring some of his offensive confidence to regular season though. Dedmon will see minutes because he is our only legit big man defender at the moment. It's a pretty full rotation and I don't think anyone knows for sure who will be playing where.

Marble, Harvey and Nicholson will be the third stringers.

The biggest question with letting harkless go for next to nothing is why do it now and not the all star break? Makes me think we need a roster spot for one of the summer league guys.That makes sense- I remember a rumor floating you guys were demanding a first rounder for Harkless this past deadline. Wow you guys got CJ Watson too? I need to pay more attention to your signings. Yeah I agree Fournier isn't a PG, so I guess it's good you got a vet.

For the long term picture, I hope the young guys get enough burn. It's nice to have some vets mixed in, but the younger players need to gain experience.

Thanks for filling me in man! :cheers:

[ProfessorMurder]

That's a good deal for the Blazers.

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

That's a good deal for the Blazers.
I honestly think they've done a real nice job getting ready for like 2017-18 w/ all that young talent they got now surrounding Lillard.

Imagine if Plumlee, Vonleh, McCallum, or Harkless all turn out to be even above average? Plumlee and McCallum are already good NBA players. If one of them just breaks out to "superstardom", Blazers' future looks good. ..."if", I know.

[outbreak]

I honestly think they've done a real nice job getting ready for like 2017-18 w/ all that young talent they got now surrounding Lillard.

Imagine if Plumlee, Vonleh, McCallum, or Harkless all turn out to be even above average? Plumlee and McCallum are already good NBA players. If one of them just breaks out to "superstardom", Blazers' future looks good. ..."if", I know.
I wouldn't expect super stardom from Harkless. He's more of a sefolosha lite if he can get his shoot stroke back. I think he shot like 20% from deep last year but I believe the year before he was up in to the 30%

[Take Your Lumps]

LOL @ people saying Moe didn't get enough minutes in his early career. He got WAY more minutes than he deserved his first two seasons under Vaughn and did absolutely nothing with them.

I always root for him to succeed but the guy plays with highly questionable intensity and focus. A very frustrating player to watch...he has all of the physical tools. Hopefully he figures it out in Portland. Otherwise, he'll be out of the league in a few.