The Philadelphia 76ers paid a high price for Tobias Harris. Will Elton Brand regret it?
Elton Brand was aggressive at the trade deadline, adding Tobias Harris in an effort to establish the Philadelphia 76ers as legitimate title contenders. It worked, for the most part. While not favorites, the Sixers have a shot in the East, and Harris is a big reason why.
Despite the early returns with Harris — as well as Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott — being largely positive, there’s still reason to believe the front office might have overpaid. Harris will become a free agent next summer. There were valuable assets sent the other direction.
The Sixers parted with Miami’s 2021 first-round pick, which is unprotected. Given the Heat’s current trajectory, there’s reason to believe it could turn valuable. They also parted with Landry Shamet, who might end up proving his worth to a degree previously unforeseen.
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Drafted 26th overall, expectations were low for Shamet entering the season. It didn’t take long for him to exceed them, earning a permanent spot in the Sixers’ rotation before being dealt. In 54 games with the Sixers, he shot 40.4 percent on 4.5 three-point attempts per game. That’s elite, especially for a rookie.
He became the heir apparent to J.J. Redick‘s throne, gunning around screens and thriving in Brett Brown’s motion-centric offense. It was tough to part with him, even for someone of Harris’ caliber. Now the trade seems even harder to digest.
Since joining the Clippers, Shamet is shooting a scorching 45.7 percent on 6.4 three-point attempts per contest. He’s also averaging 12.3 points per game, earning four starts in 11 games and looking the part of a long-term cornerstone.
In a league becoming increasingly reliant on floor spacing, elite shooters are invaluable. Even with clear limitations, Shamet boasts an essential skill while occupying a role the Sixers deeply covet. If his current trajectory continues — an increasingly steep one — Brand and Co. could end up regretting the volume of assets traded.
For obvious reasons, the summer will play a significant role in determining how good (or bad) the trade looks in hindsight. Harris seems like a reasonable candidate to re-sign — his attitude and fit have been nothing short of pleasant — but things are seldom predictable in the NBA.
If Harris leaves in free agency, the Sixers would have given up a valuable pick and a stud rookie for less than half a season of Harris. It becomes especially bad if the Sixers bow out early in the postseason. The Sixers, simply put, took a sizable gamble in dealing for Tobi.
The Clippers continue to surge in the Western Conference, still competing for a playoff spot after the deadline. Shamet looks as comfortable as ever, gunning threes with an impressive combination of volume and efficiency in an offense that plays to his skill set.
It could end up being the rare win-win trade, in which both teams benefit from the moves made. Harris has been really good in Philadelphia — he’s averaging 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds since arriving, with a 40 percent three-point clip, to boot.
Depending on how the season and summer transpire, however, it could turn south. That only becomes more true if Shamet obtains Redick-esque status in the coming seasons.