Portland Trail Blazers small forward Maurice Harkless is once again bound for a $500,000 bonus on top of his $9.7 million salary this season if he can keep shooting above 35 percent during the last 14 games of the season, according to ESPN Insider Bobby Marks.

Harkless reached the 100-attempt mark against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 17 points and going 2-of-4 from deep in the game — one that qualified him for the bonus.

The 24-year-old has been known as a reluctant 3-point shooter throughout his career, and netted the same bonus last season through a very narrow difference, finishing the season at 35.1 percent from long-range after attempting no threes at all during the last four games of the season.

Harkless treated teammates to a dinner after urging teammates not to spot him up from deep after reaching the necessary threshold to receive this bonus.

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This time around, the St. John's product is at a much more comfortable place, shooting 37.6 percent — largely aided by a sharp 45.7 percent rate since the start of February.

Bonus stipends like the one Harkless sports in his contract are far from uncommon, as the NBA has evolved into a more spread game, and front offices are encouraging big men and reluctant 3-point shooters to expand their game — now no longer a commodity, but a requirement to prove effective in today's NBA game.