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Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris speaks about Kobe, Sixer struggles and more

By Duncan Smith

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 25, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 25, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers, Tobias Harris
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 17: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on January 17, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 100-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Trade deadline memories

While we remember Kobe Bryant and his impact on the NBA landscape, there’s a season still to play. And the trade deadline is the portion of the season we are nearest to.

As a player who has been traded five times (and the draft pick he was selected with was traded twice, which should have been an omen), Tobias Harris has had a unique experience with the deadline. Four of those trades have been made at the deadline or in the weeks leading up to it.

He was traded by the Bucks to the Orlando Magic, from the Magic to the Detroit Pistons (just seven months after signing a four-year, $64 million contract with Orlando), from the Pistons to the Clippers, and from the Clippers to the Philadelphia 76ers. All of those were within a couple of weeks of the trade deadline.

Some trades have been more surprising than others.

"“The trade from Detroit to the Clippers, it kind of actually stunned me a little bit because we started the year really good, and then we started to fade. It was just one of those things. But when you’re one of the players with value, you’re then sought out as a piece to be moved. I still felt like I didn’t think I was going to get traded.”"

For an observant player like Harris who has been traded on an almost annual basis, sometimes you see the writing on the wall. Given the Clippers’ stockpile of assets and Tobias Harris’s valuable contract, he sensed this one ahead of time.

"“The one from LA, I knew that at some point I was getting traded,” Harris said. “I just had a feeling, I wasn’t shocked at all, I just felt a vibe that I was going to get traded.”"

Sure enough, he did indeed get traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, the first team he’s played for which could be considered a contender.

Related Story. Ranking each trade target for the Sixers. light

Underrated play is a blessing and a curse

A big reason Harris has been traded so often is that his production often outpaced the dollar amount of his contract. While now his large five-year, $180 million contract is much harder to move, his previous four-year, $64 million contract was traded four times in four seasons.

Harris was a prototype tweener in an era where that archetype was just beginning to skyrocket in value, and he expanded his game as a stretch-four at a time when that role and skillset also contained unprecedented value.

Tobias Harris’s representatives commissioned a PR firm, NowSourcing, to produce a document outlining his All-Star qualifications. While this All-Star push was ultimately doomed, a quote from Clippers’ coach Doc Rivers found therein outlined the perception Harris has carried with him around the NBA.

Rivers said the following:

"“I knew Tobias was a good player. We didn’t know how good. He’s just so efficient offensively. He’s a way better shooter, even though all the numbers said he was. You just don’t see that he is. He’s better off the dribble, terrific post game. So he’s a really, really good basketball player.”"

Having played for a lot of teams, and been traded by so many of them for the same reason, this is a familiar refrain for Harris.

"“It’s kind of like you’re in a new situation, and you go out there and have a good year, they’re like ‘we didn’t expect that, but that’s what he brings to the table.’ So I think my game pretty much speaks for itself, what I can do night in and night out.”"