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NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Tobias Harris

By Bryan Toporek

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 5: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 5: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Philadelphia 76ers

When the Sixers sent Landry Shamet, their own lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick and the Miami Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-rounder to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harris at the trade deadline, they didn’t have only a short-term rental in mind.

“We gave up a lot to get Tobias and Jimmy [Butler] on our team,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan in early March. “We think they’re exceptional talents. We’re going to try to keep them. We know we are going to have to pay these guys in an appropriate way.”

Considering how many potential suitors have enough salary-cap space to offer Harris a four-year max deal this summer, the Sixers may have to give him the full five-year, $189.7 million max to retain him.

If the Sixers re-sign Butler but Harris walks, they’ll only be able to create less than $30 million in salary-cap space by renouncing all of their free agents. If they hoped to retain any of JJ Redick, Mike Scott, James Ennis and/or Boban Marjanovic, they’d have to cut into that cap space to do so, limiting their ability to find a suitable replacement for Harris.

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Harris got lost in the shuffle at times after his arrival in Philadelphia, and he averaged only 14.0 points on 38.0 percent shooting in the Sixers’ seven-game playoff series against the Raptors. Had a few more of his 3-pointers fallen — particularly during his 2-of-13 performance from deep in a critical Game 4 — Philly perhaps would have advanced to the Finals rather than Toronto.

Harris will undeniably be overpaid if he receives a five-year max, but allowing him to walk would be an even worse option for the Sixers. While running back the same core will become prohibitively expensive in 2020-21 and beyond, look for Philly to capitalize on its championship window by whatever means necessary.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Basketball Insiders.

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