Tobias Harris Expected to Leave 76ers for New Contract in Free Agency
In news that will not come as a surprise to many, Tobias Harris’ tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers likely came to an end with the team’s season-ending loss to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Thursday night.
Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, league sources expect Harris “to be elsewhere” next season as he prepares to hit free agency this summer.
This season marked the final year of Harris’ five-year, $180 million contract that was signed in July 2019.
It’s not a secret that the 76ers want to keep as much cap space available to pursue a significant player in free agency. Paul George has frequently been mentioned as a target, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst cited Jimmy Butler or Brandon Ingram as potential trade options for the club.
Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Sixers will have close to $60 million in cap space and five first-round picks available to trade this summer.
Assuming Maxey gets the full rookie max extension, the value won’t be determined until the All-NBA teams are announced. If he makes the All-NBA roster, he will be eligible for the 30 percent max that comes out to a projected $247.1 million over five years.
If Maxey misses out on All-NBA honors, he can sign the 25 percent max worth a projected $205.9 million over five years.
Harris is unlikely to sign a deal anywhere close to the value of the contract he just finished, but his age—he turns 32 on July 15—and body of work put him in line for a solid deal. The veteran forward averaged 17.2 points on 48.7 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds per game in 70 starts this season.
In the playoff series against the Knicks, Harris was often a non-factor. He was held to 10 points or fewer in five of six games, including going scoreless on just two field-goal attempts while playing 29 minutes in Game 6.
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