The 5 worst signings of 2019 NBA free agency

5. Tobias Harris

The five-year, $180 million max contract given to Tobias Harris was a path the Philadelphia 76ers knew they’d have to walk down upon trading for him near the deadline. It’s a figure that, even at his best, far exceeds what Harris brings to the court but was necessary to keep Philly’s title hopes alive.

Once it was clear Jimmy Butler wouldn’t be making a return to the team, bringing back Harris, even at that number, actually made more sense. Here was a guy who was thrust into a role that had him as the fourth and at times fifth option offensively. Giving him some of Butler’s looks would certainly help Harris justify his contract with a bigger share of the offensive burden.

Roughly two hours after the Harris signing was reported, it then came out the Sixers also intended to sign Al Horford. Having guarded Joel Embiid better than most over the years, Horford projects to be of great use at both ends and valuable insurance if and when Philly’s star big man requires maintenance.

Horford is a tremendous complementary asset that is sure to pair well with Embiid and Ben Simmons, but his presence — likely as the starting power forward —  creates an awkward set of circumstances for Harris.

Do the Sixers really want to bring their $180 million man off the bench to command the second unit in order to better serve his play style? The more likely scenario is Philly slides him back to the small forward spot, an ill-fitted position for Harris in 2019, and one he hasn’t commanded since the 2014-15 campaign.

There’s something to be said for the Daryl Morey method of free agency, which is to acquire as much talent as possible and figure out the rest. Philly certainly has one of the biggest lineups in the league, but if the intent was always to bring in Horford, Elton Brand should’ve thought long and hard regarding how Harris fit into that equation.