As the official start of free agency draws nearer, the Pistons have yet to secure any sort of commitment from their impending free agents regarding new contracts Tobias Harris included. While numerous other free agents across the league have already reached agreements to stay with their current teams, Harris remains an unpredictable factor, and speculation about his possible departure from Detroit is intensifying by the day.
Retaining Harris could prove essential for the Pistons
Clearly, the Pistons ought to prioritize finding an upgrade at power forward over Harris for their starting five. However, even if that ideal scenario materializes, their depth at that position would remain extremely thin, and they ought to make every effort to hold onto Harris. Should he choose to take his skills elsewhere, Detroit arguably lacks any other player on their current roster who is genuinely capable of manning the 4 spot.
Harris’s worth was most apparent during last season’s playoffs. As his younger teammates frequently struggled to produce offensively Cade Cunningham being the exception Harris stepped up and assumed the role of primary scorer. Despite playing with limited floor spacing and a general shortage of shooting around him, Harris managed to string together seven consecutive 20-point outings against respectable defenses.
Without Harris, the Pistons likely wouldn’t have advanced past the Magic in the first round. His knack for creating offense out of nothing from the mid-post area is uncommon in today’s game and was precisely what Detroit required. At the same time, though, Harris’s difficulties with three-point shooting have also been a contributing factor to the Pistons’ broader offensive shortcomings.
The optimal role for him within Detroit’s rotation would be as a bench scorer capable of carrying the offense when paired with reserve units. If he can maintain a reliable offensive baseline even when Cade is off the floor, the Pistons could gain a significant edge over the course of the regular season. Still, the hope is that they won’t have to rely on him too heavily and can phase him out of the starting lineup as he continues to age.
Detroit will adjust if necessary
Although the free-agent market isn’t particularly strong at his position, the Pistons can certainly find alternative options if Harris decides to move on. There are other power forwards available, whether via free agency or trade, who offer superior three-point shooting and defensive capabilities.
Given where the Pistons currently stand in their journey toward title contention, they may be seeking more complementary skill sets from their starting power forward. Bringing in a younger player who fits better with the modern NBA style could be a positive move, even though they would undoubtedly prefer to keep Harris around as a veteran mentor and leader in the locker room.
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