If you went by recent trade rumors and chatter about the Detroit Pistons, you’d think Tobias Harris should start property hunting in Utah.
None of this speculation or talk is emanating from the Pistons, who are gearing up for another run at the playoffs with Tobias Harris penciled in as their starting power forward.
He is on an expiring contract, the biggest one the Pistons have, so he’s obviously going to be included in any trade rumor for a player on a significant salary, as the Pistons would need his money to make it work.
The most ubiquitous rumor lately sees Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey getting shipped off to Utah for Lauri Markkanen, and it seems like the entire rumor class of the national media is on board, though none of them address some of the obvious red flags.
Harris was an important veteran for the Pistons last season, a security blanket they turned to when they needed a bucket or a big stop. He also bonded with his young teammates, who call him “Unc” and has been busy all offseason doing charity work in Detroit.
We know the NBA is a business and Harris could certainly be traded, but those who are already exiling him to Utah should probably pump the brakes.
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I have my doubts that the Pistons will pursue Lauri Markkanen, as the Jazz are going to demand a massive haul, and he doesn’t really fit the ethos of the team.
The Pistons are built around defense and Markkanen is not a great defender. Trajan Langdon’s acquisitions have also been guys with long histories of availability, something Markkanen definitely doesn’t have.
Langdon was the GM of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, so I find it hard to believe he’d mortgage a big chunk of his team for an injury-prone player, as he’s learned that lesson the hard way.
Langdon may surprise everyone and make a big move, but both he and JB Bickerstaff talked about letting this team grow together and I think that’s what they’ll do unless there is an opportunity too good to pass up.
If the Pistons do make a big trade, Harris will almost certainly have to be involved, and it would be a shame to send Unc to Utah to a tanking mess. There will be other potential trades, ones we haven’t even thought of yet, by the time the trade deadline rolls around, so Markkanen may not even be an attractive option by then.
I could also see a scenario where the Pistons trade Harris at the deadline and then sign him as an unrestricted free agent the next offseason.
Either way, Harris is the starting four until further notice and doesn’t need to start looking for short-term apartment rentals in Salt Lake City.