Despite entering the postseason with the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are now couch-bound. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Atlanta Hawks continue to pursue the 2021 NBA Finals. With the upstart Hawks taking down the top-seeded 76ers in the East semifinals by winning Game 7 in Philadelphia, the Sixers may now be forced to remake their roster. The future of veteran forward Tobias Harris currently hangs in the balance.
Although All-Star point guard Ben Simmons remains at the forefront of the Sixers' collapse, Harris may also be forced out of town as Philadelphia as the team attempts to rebound come 2021-22. However, unlike Simmons, Harris might have very well upped his trade stock this postseason as the longtime NBA swingman can no doubt help a contending team moving forward.
While it remains to be seen as to whether or not the Sixers ultimately choose to move Harris this offseason, the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors, among several other franchises, should all at least put in a call to Philadelphia to see if a deal can be reached.
Tobias Harris trade destinations:
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks, a team that had been far from good for far too long heading into the 2020-21 campaign, were the surprise of the year in the NBA. With quite literally no one from the NBA landscape expecting anything from the Knicks this past season, New York shocked the world, becoming the no. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and even winning a playoff game at the world-famous Madison Square Garden. Although this doesn't seem like much, it surely is for a franchise that was in the cellar of the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade. Can Tobias Harris help this team to take the next step?
With head coach Tom Thibodeau leading a young, talented Knicks team into 2021-22, New York would absolutely benefit from adding an additional piece or two, namely of the veteran variety. Thanks to the fact that the Knicks have a slew of future NBA Draft picks at their disposal, New York can work both the free agent and trade markets this offseason.
Because the Philadelphia 76ers might have to clean house to some degree after a massive collapse to end the team's 2020-21 campaign, perhaps moving Tobias Harris to the Knicks in exchange for some of New York's future NBA draft capital can benefit both sides.
If the Sixers turn their attention toward the future, shipping Harris to New York would allow that to happen in addition to bolstering an up-and-coming Knicks' roster with a bonafide veteran presence.
It is highly unlikely that current Knicks power forward and the reigning Most Improved Player Julius Randle plays as well as he did in 2020-21 in 2021-22 as he and up-and-coming shooting guard R.J. Barrett could certainly use some help if New York is going to continue to improve moving forward.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to defend their NBA title in 2021. The heralded Western Conference franchise was plagued by injuries throughout the regular season. Although the Lakers were ultimately able to sneak into the postseason, even with the league's new play-in format in place, the no. 2-seeded Phoenix Suns were just too much for superstar forwards LeBron James and Anthony Davis to handle in the end. With the tandem of James and Davis hampered by significant injury trouble through the 2020-21 campaign, the Lakers are certainly in need of some reinforcements. Enter Tobias Harris.
With the Lakers in win-now mode with the tandem of James and Davis in place, Los Angeles has the ability to move Kyle Kuzma, point guard Dennis Schroder, or others in exchange for another key piece of the puzzle that can hit the ground running out on the West Coast.
With Harris potentially on the market this offseason, the Lakers should absolutely get on the horn to see what it would take to land the veteran swingman's services.
Harris is no stranger to Los Angeles as he previously suited up for the rival Los Angeles Clippers. With the Clippers currently serving as a major thorn in the side of the Lakers, the addition of Harris alongside James and Davis would definitely give the purple and gold a leg up in the crosstown rivalry.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors should have the band back together next season with All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson expected to return from injury and suit up alongside two-time league MVP Stephen Curry and power forward Draymond Green. However, the Warriors of old are no more. This is where Tobias Harris can make a difference. Even with Thompson set to return to the fold for the Warriors, he will be coming back after not one but two serious leg injuries as only time will tell how well the longtime Golden State two-guard fairs.
Thanks to the uncertainty surrounding Thompson's durability, perhaps moving a piece like forward Andrew Wiggins and some future draft picks in exchange for Harris can ease the Warriors back into the top half of the Western Conference standings. Even with Thompson slated to make an impact in 2021-22, the tandem of Curry and Green could surely use some reinforcements as the Western Conference is only getting better.
It is also worth noting that the Warriors will potentially lose out on fellow forward Kelly Oubre, who is set to become a free agent this offseason. Because Tobias Harris is no stranger playing for a contender, the Warriors would be acquiring a player that would not only fill a void right off the bat but even making an upgrade at a position of need.
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