NBA Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies to Pursue Tobias Harris in NBA Free-Agency

The Memphis Grizzlies are on the short list of teams within in NBA rumors to pursue Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris in NBA Free-Agency.

The offseason has arrived for the Memphis Grizzlies, so this means NBA Free-Agency is heavy on their minds. In considering the impending free-agent market, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris happens to be one of the first names linked to the Grizzlies.

The Athletic‘s Shams Charania was the first to report the latest of NBA rumors, which connects Harris to his current club — the Philadelphia 76ers — as an obvious suitor in NBA Free-Agency. Outside of Philly, the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, and Brooklyn Nets appear to be highly interested in inking the forward to his next deal.

The University of Tennessee product is a 36.4% career three-point shooter and has averaged more than 16 points per game in every season since 2015-16. Plus, he has played in 82, 80, and 82 regular season games in the past three seasons, respectively, including 2018-19. Harris averaged an impressive 7.9 rebounds per game this season while playing as a wing scorer and slasher.

There are many reasons why this rumor is intriguing from the Grizzlies’ perspective. Tobias Harris is a big name definitely worth pursuing. He has NBA All-Star potential, and being a small-market franchise, you absolutely have to jump at these opportunities if you believe you have a realistic chance at signing this level of talent.

Yet, there are many doors that need to be unlocked to lead up to a realistic shot of signing Harris in NBA Free-Agency. First, there needs to be cap space available. It will take a hefty offer to persuade Tobias to leave a contending Philadelphia squad and join a rebuilding Memphis roster. The Grizzlies will have to shed a poison pill contract of Mike Conley and/or Chandler Parsons around the time of the NBA Draft — ahead of the opening of NBA Free-Agency.

Alternatively, the Memphpis Grizzlies could go one other route if they are unable or unwilling to move Conley and/or Parsons. They would then absolutely have to decline their option on Avery Bradley’s $12.96 million contract for the 2019-20 season. Plus, they would need to renegotiate Jonas Valanciunas‘ contract, which would be extremely difficult considering he owns a player option in the amount of $17.6 million.

Valanciunas has sounded optimistic about a return to Memphis and has hinted that he is open to renegotiating a longer deal that could provide some immediate salary cap flexibility. Still, the best best would to be moving Mike Conley and/or Chandler Parsons. This would give the Grizzlies far greater breathing room and more dollars to work with in Tobias Harris negotiations.

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Harris is a player that fits at either of the forward positions. If he were to land with the Memphis Grizzlies, Tobias would have to split time with Kyle Anderson — who the Grizz signed nearly one year ago to a four-year, $37 million deal. Being as Anderson played in just 43 of 82 games and recently underwent surgery on his right shoulder, the addition of Harris could be the Grizzlies’ saving grace if Kyle does not return to full health prior to the 2019-20 season.

Hypothetically speaking, the big downfall to the Grizzlies signing Tobias Harris would be stunting the growth of Jaren Jackson Jr. Even if Memphis would add Harris, Jackson Jr. would be the face of the franchise moving forward. He is the guy the team needs to build around, and those plans should not be altered. Memphis needs all the offense it can get, so there will be plenty of shots to go around, but Tobias Harris should not expect to come into the 901 as the top dog. If anything, it would be a formation of a new two-headed monster.

Being as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Tobias Harris predominantly play the same position of power forward, this scenario would slide Jackson Jr. into the center position. If this becomes reality, Jaren will need to add a lot more muscle to hold his own in the paint versus other fives. His stretch game may interfere with Tobias Harris’ impact, plus the Grizzlies would continue to have severe issues in the rebounding department.

In sliding Jackson Jr. to center, you have to wonder what will become of Jonas Valanciunas. If the Memphis Grizzlies are truly all-in for Tobias Harris and they believe they have a real shot at landing his services in NBA Free-Agency, it will be interesting to see which way Valanciunas sways with his player option. He clearly wants to play inside a major role for an NBA team, and who could blame him after the insane end to the 2018-19 season he produced in Memphis? He has earned a starting role in the NBA, and anything else is pure disrespect to Jonas.

While it is only NBA rumors at this point, this is something worth watching this offseason. With a restructured front office and a new head coach to be determined, the Memphis Grizzlies franchise could take an unexpected turn at any moment. Perhaps they will look to rebuild in a more drastic measure. They could also swing elbows in NBA Free-Agency and look to land an All-Star talent.

The key trigger to watch is the postseason success the Philadelphia 76ers achieve in the month of May. If Philly falls short of the NBA Finals or even the Eastern Conference Finals, their star-powered core may decide to split. There are a lot of egos in that locker room that could boil over, and Tobias Harris may bolt knowing that he can receive whatever his asking price may be plus determine where he plays over the next few seasons. The ball will be in his court.