Suns, Jazz, and Mavericks also showing interest in the Sixers’ Tobias Harris

What will the 76ers do?

Will they stand pat and hold onto Tobias Harris heading into the final season of his contract? Or will they succumb to the inquiries they’re receiving and trade the power forward for complementary players and assets?

The Sixers have been adamant that they’re not willing to trade him unless it drastically improves their team. They made that clear on draft night and don’t intend to change their stance.

However, the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks joined the previously mentioned Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons as teams making inquiries about the 30-year-old’s availability, according to sources.

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A source said the Suns want Harris to play alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. And they want to acquire him before the start of free agency on June 30 because of possible second apron ramifications.

The only thing is Phoenix would have to move Deandre Ayton. The Sixers have no interest in the 7-foot, 250-pounder with three years and $102 million left on his contract. And why would they when franchise player and reigning MVP Joel Embiid, like Ayton, plays center?

The Sixers also don’t have any interest in any of the players the Suns would make available.

So Phoenix wants the Sixers to get a third team involved to facilitate the deal, according to a source. However, the Sixers are unwilling to do so.

The Pacers were interested in acquiring Harris during Thursday’s NBA draft. However, sources said they didn’t have enough assets to acquire him. That probably won’t change, as Harris is scheduled to make $39.2 million in 2023-24, the final season of the five-year, $180 million deal he signed in 2019.

Last week, sources told The Inquirer the Sixers are overvaluing Harris and asking for “outrageous packages in return.” That goes in line with what a source said the Sixers told the Cavs what it would take days before the draft: A package of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and a draft pick.

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There’s no way the Cavs would consider making that deal, and the Sixers knew it.

Allen, a 6-foot-11 center, was named an All-Star during the 2021-22 season. Mobley, a 7-foot power forward, was the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. This past season, he became the second-youngest player in NBA history to be named to an All-Defensive first team.

A source said Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey “isn’t negotiating in good faith.”

But the Sixers’ demands aren’t surprising.

The reported deals go in line with their having no intention of trading Harris at this time. A move that drastically improves the team is the only thing that would budge them from their stance.

And the acquisitions of Allen and Mobley definitely would do that. So give the Sixers credit for being straight-forward and sticking to their word even though they were fully aware the Cavs would quickly decline.

It’s similar to when they kept increasing their trade demands for Ben Simmons to certain teams until they achieved their No. 1 goal of obtaining James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets for the disgruntled former All-Star.

Sixteen months later, new Sixers coach Nick Nurse is said to be excited to coach Harris.

Sources said Nurse intends to get him more involved, offensively, than he was under Doc Rivers last season as the fourth option.

If things don’t work out, the Sixers will have other opportunities to trade him before the 2024 trade deadline. If things go well, they could look to re-sign him at a more realistic rate once he becomes a free agent next summer.

Will the Sixers get an offer that makes them reconsider their stance? Or will we continue to see Harris in a Sixers uniform?

Things are trending toward to the latter.