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Report: Magic won't match if Tobias Harris signs max offer sheet

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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There's an easy path to landing Tobias Harris in restricted free agency: max him out.

The Orlando Magic are not willing to match a maximum offer sheet, should Harris sign one, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.

That could be music to the ears of teams that think highly of Harris, as there seems to be little chance of losing cap space for three days with no reward. The Magic get 72 hours to decide whether or not to match an offer sheet, and the offer remains on the signing team's books during that time, which can act as a guard against the poaching of restricted free agents.

Orlando could still wait the allowable 72 hours to decline to match an offer sheet for Harris, but it's less of a concern for teams if they don't think the offer will be matched. There's a path to prying him from Florida largely unimpeded, it's just going to take a firm financial commitment.

Harris is said to be seeking a maximum offer sheet or something close to it, one that would start with a $15.8-million salary for 2015-16 and total an estimated $70.2 million over four years. That may be viewed as a slight overpay, even in a rising-cap environment, and so Harris has been considered one of the more likely restricted free agents to change teams.

While Harris is amenable to staying in Orlando and has reportedly exchanged "encouraging messages" with new head coach Scott Skiles, Harris is ostensibly seeking the best deal possible. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons have been the teams tied to Harris most frequently and both have the flexibility to maneuver into max cap space.

The Magic are said to have offered $10-11 million annually on an extension before the season and just drafted Mario Hezonja, a small forward, with the No. 5 pick. They've also offered a four-year, $80-million deal to Paul Millsap, and if that deal's accepted, interest in Harris is expected to pick up.

The 22-year-old Harris averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists this season while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from outside.

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