Tobias Harris’ stint in Philadelphia is going to be a lot longer than a few months.
The 26-year-old has agreed to a five-year, $180 million deal with the Sixers, his father and agent, Torrel Harris, confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium first reported the news.
Harris met with the Sixers at 6 p.m. Sunday, a league source confirmed.
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Sixers general manager Elton Brand acquired Harris from the Clippers in a February trade, along with Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic. The team received Harris’ Bird rights in the process, meaning they were the only team who could offer him a five-year, $190 million deal. They ultimately agreed to a deal for $10 million less than the maximum.
“There's only so many players that are super stable in the NBA, let's just be upfront with that,” Harris said at his exit interview on May 13. “For me honestly, style of play is a huge thing. Culture. A chance to be able to win. Just being in the playoffs here and getting that feeling and seeing how bad that loss felt.”
He’ll have a chance to rectify the Sixers’ stinging Game 7 defeat to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Harris is thrilled to be running it back with the Sixers.
NBA
He wrote a piece for ESPN Sunday night explaining his decision to return and his long-term vision.
As soon as I arrived from the LA Clippers in February, I could see the possibilities with this group of players, organization and city," Harris wrote. "We've got unfinished business, and I'm ready to commit to a long-term vision of bringing a title to Philadelphia. From the moment I arrived in Philadelphia, the city has embraced me. This is an incredible sports town and it's hungry for an NBA title. So are the Sixers -- and so am I.
Harris’ efficiency declined slightly during his time with the Sixers. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27 regular-season games, shooting 32.6 percent from three-point range. His offensive production in the playoffs was underwhelming, with the exception of an outstanding Game 3 performance in the first round against the Nets. In the Sixers’ lone playoff game without Joel Embiid, Harris scored 29 points on 11 for 20 shooting and made all six of his three-point attempts.
The Sixers are betting that Harris’ shooting slump was a temporary issue, and that his best years are ahead of him.
Harris seems to be well liked and well respected by his teammates. When the Sixers were struggling, he often emphasized the value of sharing the ball and having fun. Though there is much that happens behind the scenes that reporters cannot observe, Harris exuded class and professionalism in his interactions with the media. He made an immediate impact off the court in Philadelphia and was a finalist for the NBA Community Assist Award last season.
Brand will hope Harris can continue being a positive influence on the culture of the Sixers, and that his game thrives now that he has a long-term home.
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