As the NBA awaits the start of free agency, the rumor mill continues to churn. Having already seen dramatic trades involving such notable names as Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingus, and Chris Paul (twice), many have wondered when the seemingly inevitable Tobias Harris trade will go down for the Philadelphia 76ers.
After Keith Pompey reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Indiana Pacers had shown interest in the veteran forward, he added a few more names to the list of teams who have inquired about Tobias Harris. The recently added teams would include the Phoenix Suns, the Utah Jazz, and the Dallas Mavericks.
Harris has a particular interest in teaming up with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal; a source told Pompey. Surprisingly, talks with the Suns hit a snag when the Sixers were reportedly uninterested in Deandre Ayton and unwilling to find a third team to acquire the former number-one overall pick.
Pompey also notes that the Sixers requested a preposterous trade package from the Cavaliers asking for a “package of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and a draft pick.” It’s unlikely, to say the least, that Daryl Morey truly expected the Cavs to bite on this deal; the context surrounding the offer is certainly curious, to say the least.
The Sixers’ apparent lack of haste in negotiating a deal for Tobias Harris shows a determined sense of patience from Philadelphia’s front office. After all, there is no inherent need to move him with so much time remaining between now and the NBA trade deadline. One benefit however of being proactive in trade talks is the flexibility they would have in negotiations ahead of June 30th, the day before the new CBA kicks in.
So will the Sixers move Tobias Harris by the end of this month? The possibility remains, but it certainly doesn’t appear that anything is imminent. All that could change though, should the Sixers receive the offer they’re looking for, whatever that may be.
