Is Tobias Harris the Philadelphia 76ers’ most expendable asset?

Tobias Harris is a really good player and a perennial borderline All-Star. He can absolutely be the third option on a championship team, maybe even on this Philadelphia 76ers team.

The issue for the Sixers with Harris is that he gets paid like a number one option. It’s hard to assemble and keep together a championship roster with that much tied up in your third, potentially even fourth option, as this team is currently constructed.

Is Harris more valuable to the Philadelphia 76ers as a player or a trade piece?

Harris is valuable to this team, but at what cost? Fast-forwarding beyond this season, there is an absurd amount of money that will be owed to James Harden (over $47 Million) and the money from the upcoming extension that will kick in in two years for Joel Embiid (over $43 million in the first year). Compound that with the emergence of Tyrese Maxey and the continued improvement of Matisse Thybulle could make Harris that much more expendable.

Harris could become more valuable as a trade asset than he is a player for the 76ers. Harris is still under contract for two years after this season. With two years of control and the level of player that Harris if the Sixers do decide to move on from Harris this off-season. He could easily return some valuable young, lower-paid pieces and even some draft capital if that is what the Sixers would like to.

With Maxey still operating on his rookie contract, holding onto Harris is still obviously an option. However, with what Harris is paid and likely being a fourth option on this Philadelphia 76ers going forward, it is worth looking at what might be available. It’s worth asking the question: Is Tobias Harris better as the fourth option in the NBA or has he become the Sixers’ most expendable asset?