Sixers Rumors: Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre, Tyrese Maxey

What now for the Philadelphia 76ers? That seems to be the question. But just know the Sixers are expected to undergo a bit of a shakeup this offseason following their elimination by the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Among those possible changes — not bringing back forward Tobias Harris (who scored zero points in the elimination game vs. the Knicks).

“The 76ers’ biggest potential free agent is forward Tobias Harris, who averaged 17.2 points in the regular season but only 10.8 in this series while making nearly $40 million,” wrote Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

“League sources expect Harris, who has been at the center of fan frustrations in Philadelphia, to be elsewhere next season.”

For the record, Harris has already been linked to a possible return to the Detroit Pistons. But all we really seem to know is it’d be a shocker if he’s back with Philadelphia.

And he may not be alone when it comes to Sixers who end up in a new home. The same could also be true of shooting guard Buddy Hield, according to Mark Deeks of HoopsHype.

“Hield is, and has always been, a good NBA player. But Hield is also not the best all-around player,” Deeks wrote. “His efficacy is dependent on the quality of his jump shot, and as with all shooters, that jumper can fluctuate from game to game. Because of this, despite the price paid to get him in trade and his substantial salary, Hield was not even in the rotation for part of the Knicks series.”

Hield, by the way, was acquired in a February trade with the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. It appears highly likely he too will have a new team in 2024-25.

“To be sure, with his much-improved performance when given a chance in game six, Hield showed the NBA scoring skills he has always had,” Deeks wrote. “Spending close to $60 million on him and Harris, though, just for only one of them to turn up at a time, is a big investment for offensive inconsistency and defensive adequacy from two 31-year-olds.”

• Meanwhile, wing Kelly Oubre and guard De’Anthony Melton are also set to enter free agency. “Like Hield, Oubre too might be a good candidate for coming back after the bulk of the cap space machinations has been worked through,” Deeks wrote. “Unlike Hield, however, the lack of Bird rights prohibits any meaningful sign-and-trade possibilities.”
• The Sixers haven’t yet signed All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey to an extension because they have “hopes of signing a star in free agency to add alongside him and Embiid,” per Bontemps.
• Finally, the Sixers have been very much linked to Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George. They could also pursue New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram or Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler, as our Ashish Mathur relayed here.