clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Maurice Harkless a key to Magic's future

Orlando Magic forward Maurice Harkless should be a big part of the team's future. What does one writer think should be the best way to develop him?

By Tim Blank
Jim McIsaac

Maurice 'Moe' Harkless, 19 years old and a first round draft pick out of St. John's, is a key to the Orlando Magic's rebuilding process. After acquiring him in the Dwight Howard trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Magic and new general manager Rob Hennigan hope that he will be the first corner stone for the Magic.

Harkless has been recovering from hernia surgery back in August, but he did participate in the team's intra-squad game on Monday night and impressed a few of the players such as Arron Afflalo and fellow rookie Kyle O'Quinn.

Orlando Sentinel Magic insider Brian Schmitz believes that the best way to find out if Harkless is the next building block is to get him on the floor as soon as the season begins and when he's fully healthy:

He should be exposed to the realities of his profession as much as possible, learning the harsh or heroic lessons that come in a game, even if winning might be the sacrifice. For the Magic, that's the new winning.

The Orlando Magic open the 2012-13 season Friday night against the Denver Nuggets at the Amway Center. The opening tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.