Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris needs to reclaim elite status from deep

The Philadelphia 76ers need Tobias Harris to return to form as a shooter.

The Philadelphia 76ers made a $180 million investment in Tobias Harris this summer. It created more than a few skeptics, as the general public’s opinion of Harris isn’t that of a typical max contract recipient. He will need to prove folks wrong.

In the absence of Jimmy Butler, Harris now takes on the mantle of go-to perimeter scorer. He has a chance to be Philadelphia’s No. 2 scorer behind Embiid, giving Brett Brown a steady dosage of pick-and-roll ball handling and pull-up shooting.

Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of Harris’ game is his shooting. Last season, Harris drilled 39.7 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts per game. Over the past four seasons, Harris is a 38 percent deep threat, including a career-high 41.1 percent clip in 2017-18.

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When looking at his numbers holistically, Harris is an elite shooter who adds much-needed gravity to Philadelphia’s jumbo-sized rotation. His numbers since joining the Sixers, however, leave much to be desired. There’s reason for concern.

Harris’ three-point percentage dropped to 32.6 percent on 5.0 attempts in 27 games with the Sixers last season. His postseason slump, in addition to a quiet 2019 preseason, haven’t done much to sooth concerns. We have yet to see Harris shoot at a high level in a Philadelphia uniform.

The small sample size is worth noting. Until there’s a full season under his belt, it’s difficult to pass definitive judgement on Harris’ shooting as a Sixer. You can also point to reasons for his rhythm being interrupted in Philadelphia’s star-laden rotation last season. He should, in theory, be more comfortable this time around.

Philadelphia is banking on Harris being not only an elite shooter, but an elite player. He was paid superstar money by a team that has cornered itself financially. The Sixers are locked into the current starting five for two more seasons — and, ideally, longer, assuming Josh Richardson eventually re-signs.

Elton Brand‘s offseason moves put an emphasis on size, versatility, and defense. All fine pillars to build a team on. There’s still a reason modern NBA teams prioritize shooting, though, and the Sixers are short on elite shooters following J.J. Redick‘s departure. Harris will need to step up.

Whether it’s spotting up, in the pick-and-roll, or flying around dribble handoffs, the Sixers need Harris to knock down a steady dosage of triples, ideally at a hyper-efficient rate. If Harris returns to elite form on his threes, the Philadelphia offense becomes much easier to project as a successful unit.

Richardson, Horford, and to an extent Embiid, can all hits three-point shots. The Sixers aren’t devoid of shooters, especially in the second unit. There’s a difference between having capable shooters and elite shooters, however, and the Sixers are in need of the latter category. Harris needs to stretch defenses in uncomfortable ways.

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Going into this season, Harris will have financial security, a greater understanding of the system, and more familiarity with his teammates. For the Sixers, that ideally translates to a more efficient run — one that’s on par with his great seasons of late.