Reports indicate Tobias Harris is entering NBA free agency. The San Antonio Spurs are among five teams that are said to be interested according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. The Philadelphia 76ers forward is coming off a season in which he averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Good numbers for a good team. That said, it's a move the Black and Silver shouldn't make.
Perhaps the numbers more important than his statistics are $180 million over five years. Or $39.2 million this past season. Though reports indicate that Harris and his agent are aware that the market for his services at that financial cost may prove tough, you can bank on the notion that they're not heading into the summer looking to take less money.
The financial commitment it would probably take to get Harris combined with how the Spurs aren't built to withstand his game's shortcomings make it a tough bet for San Antonio.
Tobias Harris' salary range
When the financial allotments that would come with the fourth and eighth picks of the NBA Draft, which the Spurs have next week, are included San Antonio could have between $19.5 million and $21.5 million in salary cap space depending on decisions they make with their own free agents and players on non-guaranteed contracts. If San Antonio decides to approach this summer as a cap space team, which they very well might, they’d have access to the room exception of $8 million. Add it up and it's salary cap space that falls short of $30 million dollars.
That's a difference of more than $9 million compared to what Harris made last season.
Not including the raise Tobias will enter free agency hoping for, simple math says the Spurs would have to free up significantly more cap space just to come close to simply matching what Harris already takes home. Given that kind of commitment: tying all of their available cap money, and then some, on one player as part of a multi-year contract, would signing Harris be worth it?
Harris' fit with the San Antonio Spurs
The biggest knock on Harris is that his production didn't match his contract in Philadelphia. That doesn't bode well for a Spurs organization that's looking to spend every dollar wisely. His most specific criticism, though, centers on his play down the stretch. The sentiment of many around Philly is that the 13-year veteran would disappear during crucial moments of games. Again, not a good omen for a team whose priority it is to surround superstar Victor Wembanyama with help.
As Wemby continues to develop, a key is not only pairing him with a point guard who can put consistently put him in good spots but also to flank him with guys who can take the pressure off. Harris has sometimes struggled in that area, specifically last year with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey taking the reigns as the 76ers top two players.
The 6-foot-8 power forward's next team would be his sixth since entering the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2011. A report insinuates that could be the Spurs. Dollars and some sense indicate it shouldn't be.
Follow Us
Subscribe