Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris was not happy with how the team and head coach Brett Brown utilized him last season. It was evident in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semis with the Toronto Raptors. Namely, Harris had just nine attempts in that game while Joel Embiid (18) and Jimmy Butler (14) got all the critical shots. When the Sixers ran plays for JJ Redick or Ben Simmons, Harris was often the No. 5 option in the offense, and that bothered him very much.
“I was definitely underutilized,” Harris told Marcus Hayes. “For sure, last year, we had a combination of different guys. We had the newness of everybody. But yes, I was definitely underutilized.”
“I definitely was underutilized.” …
Jimmy Butler’s gone. It’s Tobias Harris’ turn. #Sixershttps://t.co/drKoDKExsZ— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) July 21, 2019
After being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade which included Boban Marjanović and Mike Scott, and saw Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, and Landry Shamet going the other way, Harris averaged 18.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Tobias became a free agent this summer, and he wanted to talk to Brett Brown about his role with the team if he decided to return to the Sixers. That discussion with head coach was fruitful as Harris got a five-year deal worth of $180 million. Only a few hours later, the 76ers agreed to a sign-and-trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Miami, and Josh Richardson came to Philly in the corresponding move.
Tobias Harris signed a max contract with the @sixers, guaranteeing him $180 million over the next five seasons.
But it wasn't possible without betting on himself.@darrenrovell spoke with Harris about his calculated (and risky) bet:https://t.co/LzeyaWjXRV
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) July 17, 2019
Harris was promised to be utilized more than ever in the upcoming season after his field goal attempts dropped from 15.5 per game with the Los Angeles Clippers to 13.9 per game during the playoff run with the Sixers. Tobias is an excellent pick-and-roll player, and with Joel Embiid in the offense, he knows he can contribute.
“For me, it’s something that I work at every single day. I’m a scorer to the heart. It’s what I do best. It’s what I’ve done my whole career,” Harris said. “I’m for sure ready to be in that position. To take those shots.”
With the current starting lineup of Simmons, Richardson, Harris, Horford, and Embiid, Tobias and Embiid are expected to share the workload in the offense, and the 27-year-old forward is looking forward to next season.
“I’m going to be in a position to play-make and to score. I’ll be more with the ball in my hands in certain situations,” Harris said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
