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April 14 (UPI) -- Maurice Harkless needed to finish the season shooting at least 35 percent from 3-point land to cash in a bulky contract incentive. The Portland Trail Blazers forward entered Wednesday's season finale shooting 35.1 percent. He didn't attempt a single shot from long distance in the 103-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Harkless actually hasn't attempted a 3-point shot since an April 4 loss to the Utah Jazz, when he went 0-for-1.
He won't admit to it directly, but by not shooting a 3-pointer, Harkless will cash in on a $500,000 bonus.
If he had made 1-of-1 attempts, he would have moved his average up to 35.3 percent. But if he missed his only attempt, he would have dipped down to 34.8 percent. Going 0-for-2, 0-for-3, 1-for-4, or 0-for-4 would have doomed his wallet.
Before the game, he was asked by reporters if he would attempt a shot from long range.
"Would you?" Harkless asked a CSN NW reporter.
He said if the game was on the line, he would pump fake a shot and get fouled.
Harkless is a career 31.5 percent 3-point shooter. The 23-year-old is due $8.9 million this season and is signed through 2019. Harkless averaged a career-high 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season for the Trail Blazers. He scored 11 points in 22 minutes Wednesday.
After the game, Harkless posted a photo from a restaurant on Instagram with the caption: "I guess dinner's on me tonight."
The Trail Blazers battle the Golden State Warriors at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the first round of the NBA playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
