Making the Case: Philadelphia 76ers
Tobias Harris actually had a surprisingly respectable postseason for the Philadelphia 76ers. Through 12 games, he put up 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 39 percent from deep. He provided a steady tertiary scoring presence for the Sixers and was also their best perimeter defender in the playoffs.
Even with an unexpected upturn, Harris still massively underperformed considering his price tag. Philadelphia simply couldn’t afford to have their $37 million forward play like a fourth option and can’t expect to be true contenders next season when Harris is slated to rake in over $39 million.
It’s not so much that he’s incapable of providing value equal to his contract. Rather, he’ll never be able to earn that money in his current role with the Sixers. Harris needs the ball in his hands to maximize his effectiveness. He’s best utilized as a jumbo playmaker on the wings and, as we learned this offseason, can even be featured as a small-ball point center.
With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and, probably, James Harden on the roster for next season, Philadelphia has no use for a nearly $40 million ball-dominant wing. With this trade, they can swap Harris’s monster contract for a much better fit in John Collins.
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Collins is much better suited to play off the ball than Harris, capable of spotting up from deep for triples, rolling to the rim for lobs and pocket passes and creating his own offense by crashing the boards for putbacks. He’s the better defender between the two and more versatile on that end as well.
Collins can impose his will as a weakside shot-blocker, a deterrent in driving lanes, or as a defensive anchor when Embiid is off the floor. He also happens to cost $10 million less per year, is under contract through at least 2024-2025, and is significantly younger than Harris.
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This trade would open up flexibility for the Sixers, both on the court and in their checkbook. Collins would space the floor for Embiid and Philly’s slashers, be a fantastic screener for Harden and Maxey, and would drastically improve the 76ers’ defensive ceiling.
