NBA rumors: Jazz, Pistons set to be 'strongest' Tobias Harris free agency suitors
06/25/2024 01:53 AM
NBA free agency will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 30. Teams can negotiate with free agents but cannot start signing until 12:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 6. Already, rumors are emerging regarding certain teams and players and, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic/Stadium, The Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons are set to be the strongest suitors for Tobias Harris.
“I’m told the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons are expected to be the strongest suitors for (Tobias) Harris going into free agency.”@ShamsCharania has an update on a possible Tobias Harris destination pic.twitter.com/AyefdF93BY
— Stadium (@Stadium) June 25, 2024
Says Charania, “I’m told the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons are expected to be the strongest suitors for (Tobias) Harris going into free agency.”
Harris just finished a disappointing season with the Philadelphia 76ers, where, despite solid numbers, he was oftentimes the scapegoat whenever things went wrong.
After becoming a focal point at the power forward position for the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers due to his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, especially as a three-point shooter, Harris found himself involved in a major trade deadline deal during the 2018-19 season that involved the Sixers. He then decided to sign a five-year, $180 million near-max contract in 2019 after going from the Clippers to the 76ers.
The Pistons and Jazz have the most to spend, at approximately $64.4 million and $38.4 million, respectively. This would be more than enough for either team to pursue Harris as an unrestricted free agent.
Jazz and Pistons looking for NBA Draft talent in addition to Tobias Harris
The Jazz will have options with the 10th pick. With Keyonte George as the future of their backcourt, plus Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton still on the roster, Utah may not have interest in creating a logjam with their guards. Ja’Kobe Walter is another player with a very wide range of teams showing interest in him. The best part about his fit with the Jazz is he’s more of an off-the-ball guard who has the mold of a modern day 3-and-D player.
There is a huge range of players the Jazz can consider at 10th overall, especially in terms of wing talent. Nikola Topic still being available makes for an interesting conversation, plus Ron Holland’s slip down NBA draft boardsdraws more questions about whether he could be the guy Utah needs. Whatever the case may be, the Jazz have not hidden their intentions to target a star this offseason. If the right All-Star becomes available between now and the draft, the Jazz will be open to dealing this selection.
Meanwhile, the Pistons are being viewed very much as a wild card due to their unpredictability. With Cade Cunningham, whom the organization views as an All-Star-quality talent, and Jaden Ivey in their backcourt, it wouldn’t be smart for the Pistons to waste the fifth pick on another guard. The idea of pursuing frontcourt help wouldn’t make a ton of sense either unless Detroit was to move on from Jalen Duren or Isaiah Stewart this summer.
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