Rumor: Celtics a leading candidate to acquire Tobias Harris in free agency

SB NATION

By TimMacLean

As Shams Charania of RealGM reported Friday afternoon, the Celtics are among two teams - the Detroit Pistons being the other - who have become leading candidates to potentially sign Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris.

TOBIAS HARRIS

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At 6'8", 226 pounds, the 22-year-old wing could fit in perfectly with Boston's long-term plans, providing both size and versatility on the wing. He averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per night in 68 games with the Magic this past season. And his 36.4 percent clip from beyond the arc is something the Celtics could definitely use after finishing 27th in three-point field-goal percentage (32.7) in 2014-15.

According to Charania, a max contract for Harris would start him out at around $15 million in the deal's first year, a number the Celtics would have no problem absorbing given their projected cap sheet for next season.

Of course, signing Harris would require the team to renounce its rights to Brandon Bass, Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome; fan favorites, but a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are also said to be interested in acquiring Harris this summer and it is believed that the Magic are willing to let Harris walk.

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