76ers: What to Make of Tobias Harris, Pistons Trade Smoke

Over the last few days, it’s become apparent that the Detroit Pistons have eyes for Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris. 

Back in December, Pistons insider James Edwards noted that the team was considering potentially reuniting with Harris. Fast forward to February, and that much was reiterated. The Pistons “remain interested” in the veteran, according to The Athletic writer.

Yahoo Sports’ NBA insider Jake Fischer echoed a similar sentiment this week. With the trade deadline approaching, Fischer noted that Detroit has “long shown an interest” in acquiring Harris, which raises eyebrows in Philadelphia considering many fans have demanded the Philly front office to look into a possible deal for the veteran, Bojan Bogdanovic.

It seems simple on the surface. The Pistons are far from contenders and should be sellers at the deadline, which makes a 34-year-old Bogdanovic a prime candidate to be moved. However, the Pistons aren’t making it easy for teams to negotiate a deal centered around the sharpshooting forward.

There are reports that the Pistons don’t plan to move Bogdanovic. Then, there has also been smoke surrounding a potential trade for Zach LaVine prior to his injury, which was another indication that the Pistons are currently taking a different approach to the deadline than most 6-43 teams would.

Even if Detroit was willing to budge and work on some sort of blockbuster swap involving Bogdanovic and Harris, it appears the Sixers aren’t looking to move their 2019 trade acquisition. According to Fischer, Philly doesn’t want to part with Harris.

In past seasons, Harris might’ve been the most popular Sixer on the rumor market, but those days are in the rearview. One might’ve assumed the chances of Harris getting traded ahead of the deadline would increase this season, considering his deal expires at the end of the year, but Nick Nurse and the Sixers remain committed to the forward at this time — especially with Joel Embiid out for the foreseeable future.

If the Pistons are truly as interested in Harris as several reports indicate, they don’t have to rush to reunite with the 31-year-old former first-round pick. As long as the Sixers seem set on holding Harris throughout the remainder of the 2023-2024 season, Detroit will likely camp at the front of the line to bid for Harris’s services in free agency.