2024 NBA Free Agency: Familiar Face Linked to Pistons

Indeed, though criticized for his lack of assertiveness, it takes pressure off a coaching staff and his teammates when they know he can deliver at least 15 points consistently and efficiently. Taking advantage of soft spots in the defense or size mismatches, Harris simply lets the game come to him.

Harris is also a multipositional defender at 6-foot-8 and 226 pounds. He’s not a lockdown defender by any means. However, he has the size and lateral agility necessary to guard along the perimeter.

A Simple Fit?

With the Pistons, Harris can play within multiple frontcourt configurations. That’s beneficial to Detroit because it’s impossible to presume who will be on the team by the next trade deadline, let alone who’ll start. As of now, 2023 No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson and 2022 No. 13 pick Jalen Duren are penciled in as starters.

Between Thompson and Duren, two non-shooters, Harris is an off-ball threat that stretches the floor. When Cunningham, Thompson, Duren, or Jaden Ivey head towards the rim with a head of steam, he’s a relief valve.

There could be a problem with positional overlap though.

Four-year pro Isaiah Stewart has been used as a hybrid big more than a combo forward. From that standpoint, there’s enough differentiation between he and Harris to ensure they won’t completely step on each other’s toes. Furthermore, Harris is more effective on post-up and more reliable from beyond the arc.

However, both players are largely used as 3-point specialists. When factoring in Simone Fontecchio, the situation becomes even more dicey, especially as Thompson’s defense makes it hard to force him off the floor. As a result, while Harris should be a simple fit, he may not be.

Before determining how much they need Harris, the Pistons should first find out if they’re re-signing Fontecchio. If not, Harris could be a key offseason addition. With that said, Fontecchio shined in Detroit, averaging 15.4 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from 3.