Orlando Received Joe Harris, Cash and a Conditional Second
On January 12, 2016, Cleveland sent young shooting guard Joe Harris, cash considerations and a top-55-protected 2017 second-round choice to Orlando. The Cavaliers received another protected second-round pick intended for 2020. The Magic announced the transaction in an official release and acknowledged that both clubs were moving contingent draft assets rather than guaranteed selections. Cleveland had used Harris sparingly during his second NBA season while he dealt with a foot injury, and the Cavaliers were reorganizing their bench around a championship-caliber roster. Orlando was receiving money and the chance to assess a shooter, but it was not acquiring a healthy starting guard ready for the same night's lineup. Both conditional picks ultimately failed to convey, removing any later draft-player return from the agreement.
The Magic Waived Harris Before He Could Play
Orlando requested waivers on Harris in the very same announcement that confirmed his acquisition. He never played an NBA regular-season game for the Magic after the agreement. Harris underwent foot surgery and later signed as a free agent with Brooklyn, where he developed into a respected three-point shooter across a separate contract and coaching environment. His later Brooklyn shooting totals and career accolades cannot be treated as an Orlando return. The Magic's C inherited grade reflects cash and short-term roster accounting rather than an actual incoming scoring contribution. The 2017 selection that arrived from Cleveland expired under its protection, so the club did not draft a new guard or wing through this transaction. The money was real, but Harris's eventual star-level efficiency happened only after the club had waived him and another team made a development commitment.
Cleveland Received No Converting Draft Selection Either
The Cavaliers' conditional 2020 second-round selection was not exercised. Consequently, Cleveland did not obtain a player through that draft right, despite the trade still appearing in transaction history years later. The practical benefit was removing Harris's contract from a roster with other urgent bench needs and making more flexible personnel decisions. Cleveland won the 2016 championship, but attributing the entire title run to this small financial maneuver would be an obvious exaggeration. The retained Cavaliers Win verdict and matching C grades describe a slight preference for roster flexibility without claiming a valuable new draftee. Importantly, the official Magic release identifies cash coming from Cleveland, while the inherited canonical asset listing excludes that detail. The editorial preserves the source-grounded term and flags the ledger for later reconciliation instead of silently changing historical grades or draft rights.
Final Verdict
Cavaliers Win under the inherited label with both teams graded C. Cleveland opened roster room but its incoming 2020 protected second never conveyed. Orlando obtained Joe Harris, Cleveland cash and a protected 2017 second that also expired, and waived Harris before he ever played a Magic NBA game. Cash is missing from the canonical asset ledger.