Philadelphia 76ers: 3 realistic Tobias Harris trade targets

(Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Kevin Love

Once upon a time, Kevin Love was viewed as having one of the worst contracts in the NBA. He refused to play nicely with his teammates once the Ls started stacking up and started earning headlines and highlights for things like slamming the ball onto the court or pouting on the sidelines instead of full court passes or impressive shots.

But then, something weird happened: Cleveland got kind of good, and Love bought in. Though he only started four games and played just 22.5 minutes per contest, Love played well on the boards, attempted half a dozen 3s per game, and seemed pleased to be playing meaningful basketball once more alongside an impressive collection of hybrid frontcourt players.

On paper, Love is the exact kind of four the Sixers could use moving forward; he’s a savvy passer, a good shooter, and a willing rebounder who can play alongside Joel Embiid and Paul Reed as a four or even slide down to the small-ball five spot next to Georges Niang.

Factor in that his contract expires at the end of the season, one year earlier than Tobias Harris’, and Love is a perfect stopgap performer who could return after the season on a more team-friendly long-term deal.

But why would the Cavaliers want Harris? Well, because he’s like a younger, better version of Love who provides additional utility as a slasher, a driver, and a pick-and-roll ball handler. The presence of Evan Mobley could cover for Harris’ defensive shortcomings, much like Simmons before him, and Harris’ offensive game could be a fun addition to a team that also features on-ball scorers like  Darius Garland and Caris LeVert.