Tobias Harris’ career has been anything but steady, playing for five different teams in eight seasons. However, that seems poised to change this offseason, as the 26-year-old Long Island native will likely command a long-term max contract.
Despite his constant movement, Harris has produced everywhere he’s gone. A talented scorer, Harris is one of the better mid-range players in the league and has improved his shooting from behind the arc, averaging 15.4 points per game throughout his career.
Last season: The Clippers traded Harris to the 76ers at the trade deadline, as Philadelphia looked to build a championship-caliber team with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler. Harris averaged 18.2 points and 7.9 rebounds on 47-percent shooting in 27 games with the Sixers.
The 76ers took the eventual champion Raptors to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. However, Harris struggled from deep, a role he often found himself filling with Butler and Embiid providing most of Philadelphia’s scoring. Harris shot just 33-percent with the 76ers in the regular season, improving slightly to 35-percent in the playoffs, well below his 43-percent mark in his 87 total games with the Clippers.
Harris will be one of the best free agents available after Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving.
Interested teams/rumors: The 76ers’ young core appears on the brink of competing for a title, but general manager Elton Brand has said the team has “tough decisions to make” regarding the impending free agencies of Harris and Butler. It is not clear if Harris would take less money to return to the City of Brotherly Love.
The Nets reportedly have interest in Harris, but they have bigger fish in mind, according to ESPN. The Nets will heavily pursue Durant and Irving, and are hesitant to offer a max-contract to a lesser free agent should they strike out further up the list.
Teams like the Kings, Pacers or Mavericks could target Harris as a star to add to a young core, hoping the addition could propel them into serious playoff contenders.
