Not long after the Sixers hired Daryl Morey as their President of Basketball Operations, a trade rumor involving the team popped up.
In a now-deleted tweet, Kyle Cohen suggested a rumor that the Dallas Mavericks are reportedly interested in Tobias Harris.
While that rumor has already been shot down by the alleged source, the possibility remains.
Reading the tweet that was written, all it says is that the “source” did not provide this information. The chances that the Mavericks are interested in Harris could very well still be alive.
It makes sense for Dallas who is looking for a third “star” pair with Luka and Kristaps. While Harris has under-performed (clearly), he is still a quality player and would fit in the Mavericks scheme.
Some are hesitant to trade Harris without first seeing him under Doc Rivers (assuming Doc Rivers wants that). As egregious as his contract is, Harris can certainly have his best season as a Sixers this upcoming season.
Mind you his contract is also the cost of doing business in the NBA. It is hardly the first, nor will it be the last case of an overpay.
If the right deal were to come along however, that tune would change.
But what would a Tobias Harris trade look like?
What Is Harris’ Value?
Any trade the Sixers make this offseason must involve shooting. The Dallas Mavericks, as luck would have it, are loaded with shooting. Along with that, there would need to be a good amount of money returning as well to match Harris’ salary.
One key to this trade working is Tim Hardaway Jr. accepting his player option, which is almost a guarantee. If THJ accepts his player option, he will receive just under $19 million which is certainly more than he can expect from another team this season.
Assuming THJ accepts said option (which he will) he becomes the centerpiece of this deal, at least from a salary standpoint.
The Sixers can’t expect 1:1 value in return for Harris but they may be able to snag several role players in return. Role players are overflowing in Dallas thankfully.
There are a few different combinations of role players that can make this trade work. In my mind, there is a clear deal to be made.
A Deal For The Rumor
Dallas Receives: Tobias Harris, Furkan Korkmaz, 2021 second-round pick (via NYK)
Philadelphia Receives: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dwight Powell, Delon Wright
The Mavericks land their third “star” while doing their best to not sacrifice shooting. Korkmaz is a low-cost shooter who fits the Mavericks perfectly.
The team also adds what is sure to be a high second-round pick. This will prove very valuable in a year that they’re without a first-round pick.
They Sixers meanwhile add three needs: shooting, defense, and a back-up Center.
Now, Dwight Powell did, in-fact, tear his Achilles in January and is still on the mend but his rehab is supposedly going well. When healthy, Powell is a bouncy Center who can do a bit of everything. He is someone who can log quality minutes while Embiid gets his much-needed rest on the bench.
Delon Wright meanwhile, is a defensive-minded point guard who is a capable shooter and can help run the offense. The Sixers showed in the playoffs that they are light on players who can make an entry pass, let alone run the offense.
Finally, Tim Hardaway Jr. proved that he can be lethal from three averaging almost 40% from three this past season. What’s even more impressive is that THJ shot that percentage while taking over seven threes per game.
The Sixers need a sniper-like Hardaway around Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Yes, he’ll be expensive but his deal would expire after the season and the Sixers would have the option to either resign him or let him walk and free up some much-needed money.
While losing Harris would hurt, it would be tough to get more value for him. The Sixers should consider offers from any team that is “interested” but should certainly refrain from “giving him away”.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
