When the Detroit Pistons brought back Tobias Harris on a two-year, $52 million deal last offseason, it raised plenty of eyebrows among the media and the fanbase. Was this an overpay for a veteran forward who has struggled to make too much of an impact for the Philadelphia 76ers over the last few years?
Harris turned out to be worth every penny. The 32-year-old combo forward had a solid season on both ends of the floor, providing Detroit with reliable veteran competence, never missing any time, and playing extended minutes.
Despite that strong performance, there have been rumors of a potential offseason departure. Since he will be on an expiring deal and has as high of a trade value now as he will ever have, selling high on Harris was considered a potential path for the Pistons front office.
Having said that, Detroit fans shouldn't prepare their goodbye letters any time soon.
J.B. Bickerstaff's Praise is Good News for Tobias Harris' Pistons Future
Looking at head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's comments from after the season, however, the chances of that happening seem exceedingly low. Keith Langlois of Pistons.com reviewed the season Harris just had, highlighting Bickerstaff's remarks.
"He is our safety blanket. He’s reliable. He’s dependable. He understands what needs to happen in the moment. He’s an unbelievable human being, an unbelievable teammate. He’s a fierce competitor. You want me to keep going?"J.B. Bickerstaff on Tobias Harris
Can general manager Trajan Langdon still trade Harris for the right deal? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not.
The Pistons have benefited immensely from the veteran additions of Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schröder last year. They will understandably want to retain as many of these players as possible. The latter three are hitting free agency in a few weeks, so keeping all of them will likely not be possible unless Langdon works some financial wizardry.
For a Pistons team that has plenty of talented young players, surrounding them with capable veterans who can shoot and defend is the best way to ensure their development and your team's success. Harris helps do that, making him a valuable player to keep around, even though his contract makes him an attractive trade chip for salary-matching purposes.
Whether Bickerstaff will get to keep his "safety blanket" for another season remains to be seen.