It looks like the Philadelphia 76ers are going to be forced to offer Tobias Harris a five-year max contract if they want him to stay.
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According to Philly.com's Keith Pompey, these five teams will go after the 6'8", 26-year-old forward: Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, and Dallas Mavericks.
By trading for Harris midseason, the Sixers acquired his bird rights—meaning only they can offer him a five-year, $188 million max contract, whereas the aforementioned five teams, and any other interested team, can only offer Harris a four-year, $141 million max contract.
The Sixers sent Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, and four draft picks (including the coveted unprotected 2021 Miami Heat first-rounder) to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harris before the 2018 trade deadline, essentially emptying their asset bank that Sam Hinkie had previously built up.
Harris averaged 20.9 points in 55 games with the Clippers this season, shooting 43.4-percent on 4.7 threes per game. In 27 regular season games with the Sixers, Harris' scoring dropped slightly to 18.2 points per game on 32.6-percent three-point shooting. In 12 playoff games with Philadelphia, Harris averaged 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 34.9-percent shooting from three-point range.
Another Sixers' impending free-agent this offseason is Jimmy Butler, who will also, presumably, command a five-year, $188 million max contract from Philadelphia. Add that up with Joel Embiid's five-year, $148 rookie scale max contract and Ben Simmons' equivalent deal—which is likely coming soon—and Sixers ownership must be willing to go over the NBA luxury tax.
Sixers GM Elton Brand, along with owner Joshua Harris, have publicly stated numerous times this is not an issue for the Sixers.
NBA free-agency begins on June 30th.
