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4-on-4: Examining the Detroit Pistons’ trade for Tobias Harris

By Duncan Smith

Jan 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) dribbles the ball against Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) dribbles the ball against Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings (7) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings (7) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Well, that escalated quickly, didn’t it? What was your initial reaction to the Pistons trade of Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova to the Magic for Tobias Harris?

Braden Shackelford, PistonPowered: My initial reaction was excitement. Every hypothetical trade I could come up with for an upgrade at power forward involved Jennings and Ilyasova–because I thought those were the most expendable pieces that could draw an upgrade. When that turned out to be the trade pieces for Tobias Harris–a player I really wanted to be a Piston last offseason–I was thrilled.

Tim Thielke, PistonPowered: This is awesome! I wanted Harris in free agency. He seemed like the player with the most upside who the Pistons had any sort of shot at. They couldn’t land him then. But they have now.

Duncan Smith, Piston Powered: My initial reaction was that it was a blockbuster win for the Pistons. Brandon Jennings is still shaky as he is coming back from his ruptured Achilles from a year ago and Ersan Ilyasova is basically a one-trick pony. Tobias Harris, on the other hand, is under contract for years on a fairly team-friendly deal, is young, and can fill multiple roles in a league where the more versatile you can be, the better. To top it off, I had hoped the Pistons would get him last offseason, so for the Pistons to get him in a more unorthodox fashion was a delight.

Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: I was really surprised by the deal. I anticipated the Magic would look to deal Harris a bit further down the road or in exchange for a star. So seeing the initial haul was a bit shocking. I thought Harris was having a good year outside of his scoring and was showing improvement. Was that worth $15 million a year (and increasing to $17 million next year)? Probably not. Still seeing a guy that was seen as a core guy traded away like this for two guys the Magic would likely bring off the bench and let walk in free agency was surprising and a bit frustrating considering the team considers itself in the playoff race. It just did not feel like a home run.

Next: How will Harris fit with Stan Van Gundy?

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