1993–1994 season. New York Knicks (1993–1996) Harper was traded to the New York Knicks (where he was reunited with Blackman) 28 games into the 1993–94 season. The Knicks were looking for a defensive point guard to replace the injured Doc Rivers, who was sidelined for the rest of the season. The shift sent him from a team that finished 13–69 to being an integral part of one that came within one game of winning the 1994 NBA Championship. His stats declined as he had to adjust to having less of an individual role, but his best season with the Knicks came in his last year with the team where he averaged 14.0 PPG. On July 14, 1996 he was released by the Knicks and became a free agent. Return to Dallas (1996–1997) Harper returned to Dallas after signing with the Mavericks on July 26. In his return he averaged 10.0 PPG and 4.3 APG. He played well at the age of 35 but the Mavericks were still a bad team, finishing the season with only 24 wins. This would be the final season that he would play for the Mavericks. Orlando Magic (1997–1998) Harper was traded by the Mavericks with Ed O'Bannon to the Orlando Magic for Dennis Scott and cash. He played one season for the Magic, his scoring and overall play dropped off but he was still a solid bench player. The Magic had a decent roster but the team was very old. 16 out of the 22 players on the roster were either 30 years old or older, Harper was one of those 16 players (he was 36 at the time). The team had an average record of 41–41 and missed the playoffs. Harper's contract expired in the 1998 offseason and he left the team. Los Angeles Lakers (1999) Harper signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were a great team and had a young Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant leading the way. They made the playoffs and it was the first time Harper had reached the playoffs since 1996 with the Knicks. The Lakers made it to the second round but got swept by the San Antonio Spurs. This would be the final year of Harper's career. Retirement In the 1999 offseason, the Lakers traded Harper to the Detroit Pistons, but he didn't report to the team. He retired from the