Reports emerged over the weekend indicating that the Phoenix Suns were heavily pursuing a trade for Philadelphia 76ers’ star Tobias Harris using Deandre Ayton, with the Suns looking to include a third team in the deal.
As the trade fell apart and the Suns made a decision to stick with Ayton to start the season, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer has revealed that Philly will do the same and will not be trading Tobias away.
“The team has been adamant that it doesn’t intend to trade Harris at this time.”
At the same time as these trade rumors surfaced, Tobias’ father, Torrell Harris, criticized the 76ers for asking Harris to spot up in the corner instead of using his deadly offensive arsenal to create more scoring opportunities.
Tobias averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season before rising to 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in the playoffs. He will be making $39.2 million next season, the final year of his contract with the 76ers.
Do The 76ers Need To Move Tobias Harris?
It has been no secret that Tobias Harris hasn’t produced up to the level of his big-money contract that he signed in 2019, prompting the 76ers to make space by letting Jimmy Butler go to the Miami Heat. That error has haunted the squad as Jimmy has made it to the ECF in three out of four seasons with the Heat whereas the 76ers are still yet to make it past the second round in over 20 years.
Harris’s contract as an expiring could allow the 76ers to reshape their roster, similar to what the Lakers did with Russell Westbrook’s contract in the winter. That contract will have more value closer to the trade deadline, so it’s likely the 76ers just wait and see how Tobias plays through the first half of the season before possibly trading him away.
