Several NBA Teams Now Eyeing Duke Basketball Product Harry Giles
Former Duke basketball one-and-done Harry Giles, at one time the nation's top-ranked recruit in the 2016 class, has spent this summer providing evidence in workouts and pro-league action that his past knee injuries may no longer be cause for concern.
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As a result, interest in the 6-foot-11, 240-pound big man is ramping up.
According to SNY's Ian Begley, the Orlando Magic recently worked out the 25-year-old. Then the Brooklyn Nets attended a Giles workout in Miami on Saturday. And the Golden State Warriors will check him out in the next few days.
The Magic might be a good fit because they have two former Duke basketball stars as their frontcourt centerpieces in reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and sixth-year full-time NBA starter Wendell Carter Jr.
Meanwhile, Chris Paul, joining forces with Steph Curry following a trade this summer, makes the Warriors an intriguing possibility for Giles. After all, the 38-year-old Paul, perhaps partially behind pulling the strings for this week's scheduled workout, is a fellow Winston-Salem, N.C., native and one of Giles' long-time mentors.
Maybe Giles fills the open two-way roster spot with the Nets or lands with a team not even in the picture right now.
Another option is he signs a G League contract, continues to impress with his rediscovered bounce and refined moves, and bides his time until in-season injuries force some franchise to look for help on the open market.
After playing only a reserve role for the 2016-17 Duke basketball squad but coming up big in comeback wins over archival UNC, Harry Giles was drafted No. 20 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers and traded to the Sacramento Kings. He remained in Sacramento until signing with the Blazers as a free agent in 2020.
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Across three seasons in the league — he sat out his rookie year to rehab his knees — Giles played 142 regular-season games, averaging 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per outing.
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