Forward Tobias Harris committed to a max deal with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, signing a max deal that will earn him $180 million over the course of five years. Harris made it clear that he would not accept anything less than a max, and the Sixers obliged.

Another team that pursued the talented forward, the Indiana Pacers, were rejected by Harris because he knew the team could not put up the money he was looking for.

J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star described Harris' thought process in free agency that led him back to a big market in Philadelphia:

“The Pacers tried to pursue Harris, whose family has deep ties to the franchise's late/great Mel Daniels, but they failed to set up a meeting not because he wasn't interested in a small market. It was because, league sources tell IndyStar, Harris only would meet with teams that could present him with a max term offer sheet. That was his line in the sand. An exploratory call from the Pacers wasn't turned down. Given the other holes on the roster they had to fill, they knew they lacked the buy-in chips for the Harris sweepstakes.”

Even though the Pacers didn't land Harris, they ended up with a high-quality player in Malcolm Brogdon.

In the end, both sides won. Harris can compete for a title while earning the money he thought he deserved. The Pacers got a great player in Brogdon while not breaking the bank.

Both are now contenders, and the matchups between the two next season will be must-see T.V.