05-18-2026, 04:21 PM
(05-18-2026, 03:47 PM)F Gump Wrote: I do recognize Harris has been overpaid for years. So it may be a plus to lower the overall payroll, and move forward from there without him. But ....
"Moving on" from Harris may not be a practical answer, because if they do so, they don't get cap room (to add the "better replacement") in exchange. So if they don't re-sign him, they merely take him out of the equation.
I think this is one of those roster challenges that GM's get paid the big bucks to handle, because I don't think it's as easy as saying 'We will get rid of him because we want what he does, but better.' From where?
Yes, tossing him away may make them better - the very same roster, except no Harris - but when they do so, they won't be gifted a "younger, more consistent scorer" or "another shot creator" by doing so. They will have to find that player internally, or perhaps with an MLE. Or have an even worse solution than Harris.
In the "old days", it would have been easy. Just sign him to a slight overpay, and expect that, if needed, you can trade him away for another underperforming player on a shorter deal, or maybe add some draft capital to grease the deal.
But in today's NBA economy, it's tougher. Nobody wants underperforming payroll - it's a roster-killer. Look what Dallas had to do in order to clear out their bad payroll: Trade a top-25 player (albeit expensive and injured) in AD for mostly air.
I think I'd offer Tobias Harris the MLE, or maybe less, and let him walk. And take my chances with draft and free agency.