Report: Tobias Harris, Nets have ‘mutual free agent interest’

As the NBA Finals approach their end, free agency and the draft move closer. This a big summer for a Philadelphia 76ers team with somewhat depleted assets and a number of impending free agents -- most notably Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported earlier in the week that there is a sense that the Sixers will offer max contracts to both Harris and Butler. Kyler goes on to say that the belief is that both will re-sign if offered a maximum contract.

Outside of the Sixers, Lakers and Clippers, Butler hasn't received a ton of interest quite yet. Nothing coming out of the media, at least. As for Harris, there are numerous teams already planning to pursue him and according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, the Nets and Harris have mutual interest in one another.

The Nets and free agent forward Tobias Harris have mutual free agent interest in each other, league sources told The Athletic. Harris represents a fit at power forward, where Brooklyn shuffled four players last season. Harris, who turns 27 on July 15, fits the age trajectory of Brooklyn’s young core, provides offensive versatility as a playmaking four in pick-and-roll sets and as a shooter, and fits Brooklyn’s culture as a well-regarded teammate over his career.

Harris grew up on Long Island, so Brooklyn would be very close to home. The brother of Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson coached Tobias in high school. The Harris and Atkinson families were separated by less than 10 miles on Long Island, Scotto continued.

The Sixers gave up a lot of assets to acquire Harris along with Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic. Harris helped the Sixers starting five become one the best in the league, but his offensive success from the Clippers didn't carry over to Philadelphia, especially from beyond the arc. After shooting 43.4 percent from beyond in 55 games with Los Angeles, Harris shot 32.6 percent with the Sixers in 27 regular season games and 34.9 percent in the playoffs.

NBA free agency begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. Only Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden and Zhaire Smith are under contract for the 2019-20 season as of this moment.