Why Tobias Harris is still holding the Sixers back

Tobias Harris’ contract will ultimately hold the Sixers back

This is nothing new. Tobias Harris’ mega-deal has been a topic of conversation ever since he signed it. He’s making $36 million this season, $37.6 million next season, and $39.3 million in the 2023-24 season. There’s nuance to this conversation. Harris will never live up to that contract, but we can still appreciate his contributions last season, and this season. Despite the poor fit, he’s undeniably a useful NBA player. But, we cannot escape the money entirely.

The Sixers are cash-strapped because of three max contracts, one of which belongs to the currently inactive Ben Simmons, and one of which belongs to Harris, who is the franchise’s highest-paid player. The Sixers have managed to build a contender despite some egregious mismanagement from past front office regimes, but that’s mostly because Embiid is there. Not because the roster is supremely well-built.

Philadelphia has done an admirable job filling out the bench this season, and depth is not the hot-button issue it once was in South Philly. The Sixers have a productive and well-rounded second unit, with enough shooting and playmaking to potentially survive the playoffs. Even so, it’s hard not to imagine what three $12 million players would look like, or even a $20 million player and a $15 million player, as an alternative to Harris’ lucrative stranglehold on the Sixers’ cap sheet.

There are players who equal or exceed Harris’ on-court value who make 10s of millions of dollars less. Even a slight talent downgrade could benefit the Sixers if it meant improving the fit. Replacing Harris with a more conducive passer, or a more confident shooter could loosen up the offense without depriving it of dynamism.

Doc Rivers understands Tobias Harris better than any other coach, but even he can’t jam a square peg through a round hole. There’s always going to be something holding back Harris in Philadelphia. He’s a helpful player on the whole, and there’s no doubt he can play for a championship contender, but Harris as the yang to Joel Embiid’s yin will never feel seamless.