The Philadelphia 76ers are going to be very active on the trade market. After a whole summer of trade rumors around Ben Simmons, there is a new rumor surrounding the Sixers. According to multiple reports, the Sixers are trying to add forward Tobias Harris to any Simmons deal.
Harris signed a $180 million extension in 2019, a deal that expires after the 2023-24 season. If the Sixers want to include him in any Simmons deal, they'll be sending out a whopping $255 million in guaranteed money over the next four years. In simple terms, the Sixers cannot find an NBA franchise to accommodate that financial burden. However, they could find a different suitor for Harris independent of a Simmons trade. After Philadelphia get its reality check in trade talks, Daryl Morey can still trade Harris and get a good return on the veteran forward.
Here are the two best destinations for Sixers' Tobias Harris.
Best Tobias Harris trade destinations
The New York Knicks seem like a perfect fit for Harris. The high-scoring forward would bring over solid offensive game to a team that struggles in that department, and the Knicks just love taking trade deals that prioritize the present over the future. Jokes aside, Harris would be a huge offensive upgrade to a Knicks team that is only 23rd in offensive rating. The Sixers would get rid of his contract and possibly get someone like RJ Barrett in return, which would be a huge improvement for their backcourt.
The Knicks would do this deal for the simple reason that Harris can score baskets. He's having a relative down year, averaging 18.3 points per game, but that number is not far from his 19.6 point clip over the past two seasons. His biggest issue in 2021-22 is efficiency, which has fallen from 51.2% overall shooting 45.5%, but that is no reason for pessimism. Harris can still put the ball in the hoop, and with more responsibility in New York, he could do it on a higher level.
What can worry the Knicks a bit is that Harris only went over 20 points per game once in his career, in his 55-game stretch for the Clippers in 2018-19. That could spell trouble, as the Knicks do not need a complementary scorer, but a primary one. It is also true, however, that Harris never had the reins of the offense fully, as he was always either the second or third star or a cog in the team-wide machine. With Julius Randle having a down year, the Knicks could pull the trigger on the Harris trade and get him to be their primary offensive option.
The Sixers would do this trade simply to get some young talent, like Barrett or Obi Toppin, while shedding some salary. Shipping Harris anywhere would be a great piece of business, as the Sixers really cannot win anything with their current core. Getting anything more than a young player and or possibly a first-round pick for Harris is unrealistic, as he brings two more years after this season of his massive salary. There are not many teams that could accommodate that, and the Knicks are one. Thus, the Knicks get more offensive firepower, and the Sixers get younger and more flexible financially.
The Cavaliers could realistically stand pat and do nothing since their season is going well. Of course, injuries have affected them, as both Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio will miss the entire season with knee injuries. However, they've marched on and currently occupy the sixth spot in the East, with a 25-18 record. Still, the Cavs might be interested in Harris and a deal could be struck.
The main reason why this deal could work is that while the Cavs are great, their offense is not. With the eighth-ranked defense in the league, the Cavaliers are riding that wave toward the top of the East. However, their 14th-ranked offense is a problem, and Harris could help tons there. Acquiring him would cost Cleveland two players and probably some young talent, but Koby Altman need to be prepared to pay the price. The Sixers, on the other hand, could get a combination of veteran help and young talent for their troubles in this proposed trade.
One package that works is Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen being sent to the Sixers, while Harris goes the other way. The Sixers would do this because Love's contract is shorter and it can be stretched next year should the Sixers need more flexibility. Markkanen is only 24, and while he has not worked out perfectly for the Bulls or the Cavs, he could explode and the Sixers would have him for about $16 million per season. If he doesn't work out in Philly, he'd definitely be easier to trade than Harris.
Follow Us
Subscribe