Tobias Harris has been delivering impressive performances for the Detroit Pistons this postseason, but his strong play is quietly increasing his future price tag. As an unrestricted free agent this summer, his current playoff surge is significantly boosting the salary he’ll likely demand.
Detroit is expected to try hard to re-sign him, given his key role on a roster that has been a top contender in the conference over the past two seasons. Losing him would hurt both on the court and in the locker room. However, his excellent play might force the Pistons to offer more than they originally planned.
While it’s tough to pinpoint an exact figure, Harris is in line for a substantial payday.
Tobias Harris’ playoff performance could raise his free-agent value
Before the postseason, the Pistons faced criticism for not adding another offensive weapon at the trade deadline, leaving Cade Cunningham to carry the load. Cunningham has delivered, but Detroit still needs a consistent secondary scorer.
Surprisingly, Harris has stepped into that role not Jalen Duren, not Ausar Thompson, not even Duncan Robinson. Through the first 10 playoff games, Harris has been a legitimate second option, backing up Cunningham effectively.
His postseason averages: 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks, shooting 46.7% from the field and 32.7% from three on 4.9 attempts per game.
He’s given Detroit everything they could have asked for (aside from slightly better three-point shooting), which likely means a bigger payday this summer. Harris is finishing a two-year, $52 million deal. At 33, he may not match that amount, but he could come close.
It seems all but certain that Harris and his agent will leverage this playoff run to maximize his earnings—just part of the business side of basketball.
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