Tobias Harris’ name has been in trade rumors for the last two years, and with him entering the final year of a five-year max deal he signed back in 2019, his name has been tied to more rumors. Harris has been rumored to be connected to potential trades with the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks previously, but nothing materialized.
If James Harden re-signs with Philadelphia, will Daryl Morey decide to run it back with the same group? Will Harris be in a Sixers uniform to start the season?
What is the likelihood of Tobias Harris Getting Traded?
With Harris entering the final year of his contract and scheduled to make $39 million this year, he is the best candidate on the roster to be traded if a move were to be made. Harris’ contract is large enough to match if the Philadelphia 76ers were interested in a star player who asks for a trade.
His contract is also expiring, which teams who want to rebuild or look to clear their books, could find attractive. Harris is also a leader, and young teams trying to rise up the standings in the Eastern Conference could see him as a culture setter and locker room leader. Harris’ time with the 76ers seems to be coming to an end, one way or another.
Where Could Tobias Harris Be Traded To?
There is no doubt that Morey and the front office have been poking around trying to find the best deals in exchange for Harris in multiple scenarios. There are most likely scenarios in place whether James Harden re-signs or not, as has been reported that Morey “has a couple of things up his sleeve” this offseason. Besides obtaining Harden at the trade deadline, most of the Sixers’ biggest moves have happened during the NBA Draft, and you can expect something similar this year.
If Harris were to be traded, which teams would make sense? Could he be traded in a deal with the Chicago Bulls in exchange for a package centered around DeMar DeRozan? It has been rumored that the Bulls are “quietly” shopping around Zach Lavine, which could signal the start of a potential rebuild. The Indiana Pacers are rumored to be in the market for a starting forward. Would they be willing to trade Buddy Hield and other assets for Harris?
How about reaching out to the Clippers to try to get a combination of Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, or Marcus Morris? The Hawks have been looking to trade John Collins for the last two years. Maybe the 76ers could trade Harris, Jaden Springer, and a future asset for Collins and DeAndre Hunter or Bogdan Bogdanovic. Morey and the team will have to get creative in order to move Harris this off-season.
What if Tobias Harris Stays?
If Harris does stick around this offseason, how does he continue to fit in the lineup? If Harden bolts to Houston, the front office likely keeps Harris around to be the third scorer behind Embiid and Maxey. If Harden returns, Harris will likely go back to his role, which changes every night depending on who is available and the matchup.
With Embiid, Harden, and Maxey running the offense, Harris normally has to stay in the corner, and that is a role he does not like. There were rumors that Tobias Harris wanted to be more involved with the offense, running more pick and rolls and having plays run for him. If he is unhappy with his role, maybe it is best if he and the Sixers move on. Only time will tell.
