Sacramento Kings Among Major Players for Free Agent Tobias Harris
May 21, 2019, 5:19 PM | Updated: 5:19 pm
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings are hoping to break their stigma of being a poor free agency destination this summer by signing a name or two to pair with their exciting, 39-win young core. Forward Tobias Harris, coming off a career year with the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, is looking to get paid. The Kings have money, and are in need of another frontcourt staple.
It’s a match made in heaven.
According to Keith Pompey of The Inquirer in Philly, Sacramento is amongst five major suitors (outside of Philadelphia) to land Harris this summer. The 76ers have the bird rights to the 26-year-old forward, meaning they are the only team that can offer the maximum, five-year, $188 million contract. All other teams can only offer four years, $141 million.
As the centerpiece in Los Angeles this past season, Harris averaged 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field and 43% from the three-point line. His leadership had the Clippers at the top of the Western Conference for the first few months of the season. After being traded to the 76ers, where he joined a starting lineup of Ben Simmons, JJ Reddick, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid, Harris’ production dropped off a bit; 18 points a game and just 32% shooting from deep.
The 76ers were eliminated in round two of the NBA Playoffs in seven games by the Toronto Raptors.
76ers general manager Elton Brand has been assured by management that keeping the core-four together is a top priority this summer. But with both Butler and Harris to pay, not to mention future contracts for Simmons and Embiid, it’s a one-way path to significant luxury tax penalties in the very near future.
Sacramento makes perfect sense for Harris, who thrived playing alongside scoring guards and athletic bigs in Los Angeles. Harris also makes perfect sense for Sacramento, who is searching for that missing piece in the frontcourt that will help the team break a 13-year playoff drought.
Just close your eyes and imagine a starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris and Marvin Bagley in Sacramento.
Isn’t it beautiful?
