An anonymous member of the Philadelphia 76ers told Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise “loves” Tobias Harris, whose father said the team hasn’t used his son correctly on offense. Harris also called out Sixers fans, saying casual supporters don’t understand how valuable he is in the NBA.
“Offseason remarks aside, we love Tobias Harris and he knows that,” the anonymous member of the Sixers said. “He’s a really good player and a big part of everything we’ve been over the last several years. Nothing has changed about the way we feel about him.”
Harris has been the subject of trade rumors and backlash ever since he signed a massive five-year, $180 million with the Sixers in July 2019. He’ll make $39.3 million next season, the final year of his contract.
The Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers reached out to the Sixers about a Harris trade this summer, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tobias Harris & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The 30-year-old Harris averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season while shooting 50.1% from the field, 38.9% from beyond the arc and 87.6% from the free-throw line.
If the Sixers don’t trade Harris, new head coach Nick Nurse intends to get the swingman more involved offensively than he was under Doc Rivers last season as the fourth option behind James Harden, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tobias Harris & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harris is represented by his father, Torrel. The CEO of Unique Sports Management International was a guest on the “Business of Sports” podcast and Torrel said the Sixers haven’t used his son correctly on offense.
“Personally, I don’t think so. The reason I say that, well Tobias is an assassin scorer,” Torrel said. “I mean they can’t stop him. Nobody in the league can stop him. So he’s proven that over his career, even when he was with the Clippers, he was an assassin scorer.”
The Sixers are currently dealing with Harden’s trade request, so Harris likely won’t be traded.
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