Miami Heat

Could Tobias Harris be a perfect fit for the Miami Heat?

Published Jun. 5, 2015 1:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Magic must be worried about losing free agent Tobias Harris...or at least having to match on an insane contract.

The 22-year-old Harris averaged 17.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this past season in Orlando, turning him into one of the more highly coveted young free agents of the upcoming summer. There are going to be a bunch of teams who want him. Maybe one of those is the Heat.

Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post has some ideas:

Harris will be a restricted free agent, so the Magic have final say on if they want to keep him or not. Orlando can choose to match any offer he signs to bring him back to the world of Disney.

(H/t to Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post.)

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Because he is restricted, Orlando will have an opportunity to match any contract for him if he signs an offer sheet with that team. Still, the Heat might be able to outbid the Magic without busting their own budget.

Harris (6-8, 226) has increased his scoring average every year since coming into the league with Milwaukee in 2011-12 and his shooting percentage went up each of the last three. He added the 3-point shot to his arsenal last season and made 36.4 percent on 239 attempts. He previously had not shot more than 126.

He is average defensively, but obviously at this age there is a significant opportunity for improvement.

Harris would be even more enticing to the Heat if they lose Luol Deng in free agency next month. That would free up more money to lure Harris, and it would provide the clear starting opportunity he likely wants.

One of the reasons Harris is viewed as available despite being restricted is that the Magic just hired Scott Skiles as their new coach. Skiles was in charge in Milwaukee when Harris was a rookie, and Harris fell out of favor with him as the season progressed. That might make Harris less inclined to go back to Orlando and Orlando less inclined to pursue him.