A Tobias Harris reunion with one of his former teams might be right call

Could Philadelphia 76ers power forward Tobias Harris return to the Detroit Pistons this summer in free agency?

In a column posted Friday, The Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Keith Pompey wrote that several NBA executives believe "there's a chance" Harris will end up back in Detroit, where he played in some of 2015-16 through plenty of 2017-18.

Over the years, Harris has been a quality player, but he’s had his critics. Harris's tenure with the 76ers hasn't led to much praise, partially due to his bad performances in big spots. He contributed on the boards, but not making a three-point shot in Philadelphia's play-in tournament win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday didn’t exactly dispel the blame.

Harris does get some unnecessary flack, though, and his roles have changed multiple times with Philadelphia. He has improved defensively, positively affects spacing and has a mid-post game.

Harris's impending free agency is something to consider going forward. Looking to the offseason, he projects to be a player many teams could pursue. Pompey’s report stated that “several other teams” besides Detroit are interested.

As Pompey also emphasized, it seems likely that he and the Sixers will part ways in the coming offseason. 

If that occurs, Harris's possible return to Detroit could be sensible. Although going back there wouldn’t get him much acclaim, he’d be a meaningful veteran and could find more opportunities.

Philadelphia has much maligned Harris, and it's been difficult for him. Signing a five-year, $180 million max deal in 2019 hasn't helped his case, either.

Perhaps if he were to sign with one of his former clubs in Detroit, the scenery change would pay dividends. Additionally, he could be a quality piece to pair with Cade Cunningham, and higher usage could do wonders for Harris, who's had 16.3 points per game in his career.

Of course, whether he actually ends up signing with Detroit, even with them set to have a $60.5 million mountain of cap space, is another thing entirely. The Pistons are coming off their worst season in team history with 14 wins in 2023-24. 

However, Harris's potential for having more touches and setting the right example for youngsters could be alluring to him, who turns 32 in July. Plus, it could change how some perceive him.