3. TOBIAS HARRIS
Tobias Harris started this season with something he didn’t have last year at the time of the trade — a clear role. With all of the transition and new faces in the locker room, Harris had to accept being a fourth scoring option. Despite having career numbers in Los Angeles prior to the trade, he arrived in Philly and felt inclined to defer on occasions.
Where he would have normally asserted himself in the past, his backseat was a ride that didn’t expire until Jimmy Butler was shipped to Miami. Some predicted that he would be the scapegoat for the Sixers if they did not perform up to expectations. Harris has come through though as one of the most consistent players on the team.
His offensive numbers are similar to what he’s done in the past. His impact has been felt mostly in the halfcourt sets, where he has scored from all areas of the court. Harris has provided a steady postup game, and his mid-range jump shot proficiency makes him a unique scorer on the roster. He’s not known as a playmaker, but that was never in the Sixers’ blueprint for him. The impact Harris’s game has in transition is when he spots up for threes. In that situation, he opens the lane for dunks and layups.
With the chemistry building, Tobias Harris will keep impacting the team in his role as an offensive threat and a vocal team leader.