By Tom Petrini
拉斯维加斯——篮球界齐聚在托马斯&马克中心（Thomas & Mack Center）这座装有空调的绿洲中，既为了观看夏季联赛中最新的年轻新秀，也为了讨论像7月拉斯维加斯空气炸锅般炙手可热的话题。
勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 下一步会去哪里打球？科怀·莱昂纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 和 Aspiration 的调查是怎么回事？小加里·特伦特 (Gary Trent Jr.) 的事情确实很奇怪。维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 降薪了，凯尔特人队交易了杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown)，这一切对于劳资协议以及球队在“土豪线”时代的运作方式意味着什么？湖人队做出了一系列举动，包括在沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler) 身上进行了一次豪赌。扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的交易在里氏震级上几乎没有引起什么波澜。
这些故事占据头条新闻是合情合理的，比我更聪明的人已经为此泼洒了大量的墨水。当我在周围看到这些人时，我向他们提了几个问题，关于一个在这个NBA休赛期几乎没有引起关注，但却可能在11个月后决定总冠军归属的故事。
从与我交流过的人（从马刺圈内人士到全联盟的篮球运营人员和媒体成员）达成的共识来看，托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (Tobias Harris) 将会是马刺现有阵容中一个极具影响力的补充。
“他正是他们所缺少的，”一位记者总结了全联盟对这次引援的普遍看法。
扎克·洛维 (Zach Lowe) 在他的节目中称赞这一举动是“纯粹的加法”，这听起来是一个极佳的描述。
通过签下哈里斯，马刺在打进总决赛后大声且清晰地表明，他们希望进行一次合理的升级，而不是翻天覆地的改变。调整那套让圣安东尼奥距离拉里·奥布莱恩杯仅差几场胜利的首发五人组是一次冒险，但在他们今年夏天能够实际引进的所有球员中，哈里斯作为首发是最合乎逻辑的选择。
“托拜厄斯·哈里斯会为马刺首发吗？”
当我向马刺之外的人追问这个问题时，他们的反应迟疑了一下，回答从“我不这么认为”到“是的，可能吧”不等，这表明答案并非显而易见，而被问到的人在此之前也并没有对这个问题进行过太多的思考。
他们中的大多数人最终都归入了“是的，可能吧”这一阵营，而出于各种原因，我猜测他们是对的。让我们来逐一分析。
1. 托拜厄斯·哈里斯真的很优秀
一段时间以来，广大的NBA球迷一直很难理解哈里斯其实是一位非常优秀的篮球运动员。这主要是因为在七个夏天前，费城76人队决定给他一份价值1.8亿美元的5年顶薪合同，并交易走了吉米·巴特勒 (Jimmy Butler)。
这项运动的商业层面已经与媒体报道和球迷之间的讨论紧密交织在一起，因为它对你能够组建的球队以及你能够取得的成功有着巨大的影响。在全联盟的总经理眼中，一个拿着长期顶薪合同的优秀球员会被视为不良资产，而在认知层面上，哈里斯出色的赛场产出完全被他两个合同前签下的那笔交易阴影所笼罩。
2019年11月2日；美国俄琴州波特兰；在摩达中心下半场还剩10秒时，费城76人队后卫本·西蒙斯 (Ben Simmons) (25) 两罚全中，帮助76人队以126-125领先波特兰开拓者队，随后76人队前锋詹姆斯·恩尼斯三世 (James Ennis III) (11) 和前锋托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (12) 一起庆祝。Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports
但那份合同早已成为过去，而哈里斯依然是一位非常优秀的篮球运动员。两年3100万美元比他在其他地方能拿到的要少，但在职业生涯的这个阶段，他想要赢球。曾经被视为高薪低能的他，如今让马刺成功运作，成为了一支能够以折扣价吸引哈里斯加盟的球队。
在季后赛中，哈里斯挺身而出，成为了底特律活塞队的第二核心。在一支常规赛豪取60胜、领跑整个东部联盟的活塞队中，他场均贡献18.1分、7.2个篮板、1.4个三分球、1.5次抢断和35分钟的出场时间，这些数据均位列全队前三。
在空间拥挤且除了凯德·康宁汉姆 (Cade Cunningham) 之外几乎没有自主进攻创造力的情况下，这位征战了15年的老将不得不通过艰难的方式去得分。在拥有更多选择的马刺队中，他应该能获得更轻松的出手空间和更高的效率。他在观看总决赛时可能也有同样的想法。事实上，他非常完美地契合了圣安东尼奥的需求。
2. 解决马刺的最大痛点
圣安东尼奥在刚刚过去的赛季中拥有一套令人难以置信的阵容，而将朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 提升到首发阵容中取代哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes)，不仅提高了球队的下限，也拉高了上限。他的投篮、防守和篮板能力，对于一位与文班亚马同场竞技的球员来说都是至关重要的武器，他也帮助推动了这支球队一路杀进总决赛。
2026年6月10日；美国纽约州纽约；在麦迪逊广场花园举行的2026年NBA总决赛第四场第二节比赛中，纽约尼克斯队后卫杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) (11) 运球过半场，面对圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼 (30) 的防守。Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
在整个季后赛，尤其是在总决赛中，马刺应该尝试在阵容深度中增加什么样的球员变得显而易见。除了投篮、篮板和防守之外，他们还需要一个在侧翼有体型且经验丰富的人。如果这个人是更衣室领袖，那将是加分项；如果这个人能在进攻陷入停滞时持球突破并完成自主出手，那更是极大的加分项。
哈里斯满足了所有的条件，这应该会再次提高球队的下限并拉高上限。
3. 更足的尺寸，不变的风格
除了文班亚马之外，马刺的首发阵容体型有些偏小，主要由一群身高在6英尺3英寸到6英尺6英寸（约1.91米到1.98米）之间的多功能球员组成。这使得他们在防守外线时速度极快且可以无限换防，但在面对前场体型更大的球队时，他们显得有些脆弱。尚帕尼、德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 甚至斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 在防守这些球员并用速度和空间惩罚他们方面做得很好，但米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 本可以拥有一个身高在6英尺8英寸（约2.03米）或更高的可靠选择。
哈里斯在圣安东尼奥急需的那个位置上提供了他们想要的一切，同时在攻防两端绝对不需要对战术体系做出任何改变。他可以拉开空间、在篮下终结、参与快攻、拼抢篮板，并防守多个位置。
4. 经验丰富的赛场产出
巴恩斯和卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 作为阵容中仅有的NBA总冠军成员以及仅有的具有真正季后赛经验的轮换球员进入了季后赛。他们在季后赛中的出场时间有所下降，与俾斯麦·比永博 (Bismack Biyombo)、凯利·奥利尼克 (Kelly Olynyk) 和梅森·普拉姆利 (Mason Plumlee) 一起，成为了主要在替补席上分享智慧的老将。
马刺在总决赛的每一场比赛中都曾取得过领先，却眼睁睁地看着领先优势在五场比赛中的四场里溜走。有多少次，人们觉得这支年轻的队伍需要一只指引的手，一个在场上陪伴他们的稳定的老将？
2026年5月28日；美国德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥；在霜冻银行中心举行的2026年NBA季后赛西部决赛第六场对阵俄克拉荷马雷霆队的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1)、后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (5) 和前锋哈里森·巴恩斯 (40) 在等待换人指令。Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
于是，征战了15年的职业典范哈里斯来了。
这个家伙自奥巴马第一任期以来就一直在NBA打球，他可以告诉你自那时起发生改变的一切，以及完全没有改变的一切。在他的职业生涯中，他场均贡献16分和6个篮板，而在34岁时，他在去年的季后赛中拿到了比这更好的场均数据。他稳定、耐用且聪明。无论走到哪里，他都作为更衣室领袖而备受赞誉，并向他所融入的社区回馈了大量的资金。
哈里斯回到活塞，帮助改变了球队文化，让那支年轻的队伍从联盟垫底一路飙升至东部第一。他拥有成为这种领袖的经验，并且他依然拥有在季后赛中成为一支优秀球队第二核心的运动能力和技术。
哈里斯在他出场的每一场比赛中都担任首发，确切地说是649场。
5. 篮板与防守
哈里斯在季后赛中场均抢下7.2个篮板，这在马刺队中将仅次于文班的10.9个，排在第二位，并且高于尚帕尼和瓦塞尔的5.7个和5.6个。在篮板球上多一些拼抢和体型优势大有裨益，尤其是当对手使用多人包夹来阻止文班亚马冲抢篮板时。
他的体型为马刺的防守增添了一个维度，因为他能够与外面一些体型更大的侧翼进行身体对抗，但他也足够快，能够防在更小的后卫身前并完成抢断。他在季后赛中场均1.5次抢断超过了圣安东尼奥的任何人，而尚帕尼、达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 和瓦塞尔每人场均贡献1.3次。
2026年5月17日；美国密歇根州底特律；在小凯撒竞技场举行的2026年NBA季后赛第二轮第七场上半场比赛中，克利夫兰骑士队后卫詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden) (1) 面对底特律活塞队前锋托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (12) 运球。Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
6. 投篮保持稳定
尚帕尼相比哈里斯有明显优势的主要领域是他的三分球出手产量。去年，尚帕尼场均出手6.2次三分球，命中率为38%，而哈里斯场均出手3.5次，命中率为37%。尚帕尼大约74%的出手都在三分线外，而哈里斯的这一比例仅为三分之一。
在某种程度上，马刺拥有一名主要在三分线外作业的专属狙击手是有益的。防守球员必须贴得更紧一些，而围绕文班和这些后卫拉开空间是首要任务。
但哈里斯在外线保持了足够高的命中率，防守端必须对他保持尊重，而且作为一名不需要被寄予厚望去自主创造得分机会的球员，他可能会在进攻流转中获得很多空位出手机会。对马刺来说，极好的消息是，如果他们在紧急关头需要他去自主创造机会，他完全做得到。
2026年5月3日；美国密歇根州底特律；在小凯撒竞技场举行的2026年NBA季后赛首轮第七场对阵奥兰多魔术队的比赛中，底特律活塞队前锋托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (12) 在下半场投篮。Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
7. 哈里斯能硬解得分
当活塞陷入困境时，他们会说：“请帮帮我们，托拜厄斯·哈里斯。”
观看他的高光集锦，屏幕上会跃然呈现出他有多少次不得不通过个人能力强行出手来压哨得分。看看他在季后赛中的所有出手，你就会立刻明白为什么他在那轮系列赛中的效率数据并不是最出色的。
进攻引擎康宁汉姆在季后赛中未能全力运转，在缺少其他组织进攻选择的情况下，当进攻陷入停滞时，他们只能求助于哈里斯。在面对90年代般的拥挤空间以及能够重点针对他的防守时，这位坚韧的老将承担了吃力不讨好且注定失败的任务——试图仅凭个人得分来拯救一艘正在下沉的巨轮。
不过说到得分，哈里斯自主创造得分机会的能力将成为马刺队的关键安全阀，而马刺并不需要将其作为主要或次要的得分来源。尽管圣安东尼奥天赋满满，但在季后赛中，也曾出现过进攻停滞、时间一分一秒流逝的情况。如果防守方全力保护篮筐并封堵外线投手，而防守薄弱环节——不那么受欢迎的中距离投篮成了最清晰的机会时，哈里斯能够稳稳命中。
在常规赛中，他在合理冲撞区和三分线之间的近300次出手里，命中率约为49%。其中60%的进球是无助攻的。根据NBA的比赛追踪数据，他在被归类为转身跳投或转身后仰跳投的出手里，73投42中，且其中超过90%是无助攻的。相比之下，尚帕尼在合理冲撞区和三分线之间仅尝试了64次出手，命中率不足35%。
这并不是说尚帕尼应该尝试更多16英尺的投篮，或者圣安东尼奥应该围绕哈里斯的这种打法来构建进攻，但哈里斯具备这种能力的事实，在战术上为马刺打开了很大的空间。
8. 无法隐藏防守弱点
尚帕尼是一个危险的投手，但对手喜欢把他们最弱的外线防守者藏在他身上，因为他无法通过强攻篮筐造成威胁。像布伦森或谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) 这样体型较小的主要进攻组织者，如果只需要在三分线外跟着一个投手，增加其接球难度，并进行有效的干扰，那么他们在防守端就能生存下来。
将尚帕尼换成哈里斯，对手就失去了这个选择。哈里斯能够而且一定会把体型较小的防守者拉进“刑讯室”，在低位惩罚他们，直到对方防守想出更好的办法。
2026年5月9日；美国俄亥俄州克利夫兰；在火箭球馆举行的2026年NBA季后赛第二轮第三场下半场比赛中，底特律活塞队前锋托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (12) 突破上篮，面对克利夫兰骑士队后卫多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell) (45) 的防守。Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
上赛季只有18名球员的低位背打次数多于哈里斯，而且他每回合得到1.11分，排名接近前四分之一。背打次数更多且每次背打得分更高的球员名单如下：尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic)、乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid)、德马尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan)、卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic)。
圣安东尼奥不会在低位通过哈里斯来主导进攻，但如果对手试图把他们重攻轻守的小个后卫藏在他身上，马刺可能会开始这么做。相反，那些家伙将被迫面对被达龙·福克斯一步过掉、被卡斯尔身体碾压，或者去对位比尚帕尼更具动态得分威胁的瓦塞尔。
9. 平衡轮换阵容
即使阵容构建方式不同，基于上述所有分析，哈里斯也有充分的理由成为首发。但结合马刺在休赛期引进和保留的拼图，将哈里斯放入首发阵容是平衡轮换的明智之举。
迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 可能会继续替补出场，以确保第二阵容中有一名明星后卫——或者说实际上有任何后卫。明白这一点后，马刺组织轮换的方式就只有那么几种了。哈里斯首发的选择能让一切都各就各位，而另一种选择则会让很多球员脱离他们的最佳位置。
哈里斯首发
- 首发：福克斯 - 卡斯尔 - 瓦塞尔 - 哈里斯 - 文班亚马
- 替补：哈珀 - 尚帕尼 - 凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) - 卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) - 科内特
- 预备：乔丹·麦克劳克林 (Jordan McLaughlin)、巴恩斯、小塔里斯·里德 (Tarris Reed Jr.)
在这种安排下，首发阵容通过哈里斯获得了此前所缺失的体型，同时尚帕尼可以落位到更自然的得分后卫角色，而凯尔登·约翰逊和卡特·布莱恩特都能留在他们位置上最舒服的地方。
尚帕尼首发
- 首发：福克斯 - 卡斯尔 - 瓦塞尔 - 尚帕尼 - 文班亚马
- 替补：哈珀 - 凯尔登·约翰逊 - 卡特·布莱恩特 - 哈里斯 - 科内特
- 预备：乔丹·麦克劳克林 - 巴恩斯 - 小塔里斯·里德
之前在哈里斯首发时所平衡好的一切，在这里都变得失衡了。首发阵容依然偏小，尚帕尼在大前锋位置上有些偏离最佳定位。凯尔登·约翰逊在二号位上体型偏大，卡特·布莱恩特在三号位上体型偏大，而哈里斯作为替补四号位则显得有些大材小用。
10. 优化尚帕尼的多功能选择性
哈里斯依然是一位极具影响力的球员，如果他能在揭幕战中首发，对马刺和他本人来说可能是最好的结果。他拥有首发阵容所需的赛场产出、体型和技术，如果让他打替补，他的才华将无法得到充分发挥。
另一方面，尚帕尼从替补角色中能获得更多好处。他将在二号位或三号位上打球，这正是他应该在的位置，而且在面对实力较弱的对手时，他将拥有更充裕的无限开火权。
在尚帕尼上赛季固定进入首发阵容之前，他是那个可以为从控球后卫到大前锋任何需要休息的球员提供替补的人。福克斯或卡斯尔缺阵？其中一人打控卫，尚帕尼打得分后卫。瓦塞尔缺阵？尚帕尼在三号位上有足够的体型，并且扮演着非常相似的角色。在圣安东尼奥面对体型较小球队的夜晚，为什么不让哈里斯休息一晚，把尚帕尼放回他去年的位置呢？
2026年5月28日；美国德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥；在霜冻银行中心举行的2026年NBA季后赛西部决赛第六场对阵俄克拉荷马雷霆队的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼 (30) 在下半场中做出反应。Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
在漫长的82场常规赛中，尚帕尼填补阵容中几乎任何漏洞的能力对于一名替补球员来说都是极其宝贵的，并且在应对每支球队都会遇到的伤病困扰时，能为马刺提供最大的选择余地。以这种方式使用他，可以减少任何单一伤病可能产生的连锁反应，从而将对其他轮换阵容的干扰降到最低。
如果让哈里斯打替补，他并不具备这种即插即用的多功能性，事实上，除了尚帕尼之外，没有其他人具备这种能力。
11. 合同谈判后的预期
34岁的哈里斯和25岁的尚帕尼都在今年休赛期与马刺签下了合同，两者的背景截然不同，谈话内容也可能大相径庭。在没有内部消息的情况下，让我们来看看背景，并想象一下每位球员与球队之间的对话可能会是什么样子。
尚帕尼
- 新合同：3年4500万美元（逐年递减）
- 上一份合同：4年1200万美元
- 职业生涯总薪资（包括这份合同）：54,212,373美元
马刺的理论说辞：“朱利安，你是马刺大家庭的一员，看着你成长真是太不可思议了。几年前你被裁掉，甚至不知道自己是否还能在NBA立足，而现在你已经是一支提前打进总决赛的球队的关键成员。我们有宏伟的计划要重返总决赛并夺冠，而你是其中非常重要的一部分。我们本可以执行选项，在即将到来的赛季只付给你微不足道的300万美元，但我们不打算这么做。相反，我们将与你签下一份价值4500万美元的3年合同，让你的职业生涯总收入翻四倍，你将有更多机会与你的兄弟们一起争夺总冠军。听起来怎么样？”
哈里斯
- 新合同：2年3084万美元
- 上一份合同：2年5200万美元
- 职业生涯总薪资（包括这份合同）：331,343,705美元
马刺的理论说辞：“嘿，托拜厄斯，很多人告诉我们，你非常适合我们在这里建立的文化，我们完全同意。我们正在敲响另一座总冠军的大门，我们认为你可以帮助我们把这扇门踹开。来圣安东尼奥吧。带来你的老将领导力、你在侧翼的体型、你的团队防守、篮板、空间拉开能力以及强投硬解能力。在最耀眼的聚光灯下，向世界展示哈里斯是一位多么优秀且一直都很优秀的球员。我们知道你可以留在底特律，那里的球队和球迷都爱你。我们知道其他球队可以给你提供比我们两年3100万美元更多的合同。但他们谁也无法给你提供更好的争夺荣耀的机会。作为最后一块拼图在这里赢得总冠军，永远铭刻你的传奇。”
在做完这个推演之后（我再次强调，这完全是理论上的，是对公开信息的解读），这两位球员中哪一个更容易被说服接受替补角色？哪位球员可能会更坚持首发，而马刺又更可能去迁就谁？
这并不是说哈里斯将首发位置作为他签约的条件，也不是说尚帕尼已经接受了替补角色，或者说决定已经以某种方式做出了。但在谈判和签署这些合同时，不可能完全没有讨论过角色定位，如果马刺必须给某人一些甜头，那很可能会是哈里斯。
12. 低风险，高回报
在赛季开始时让哈里斯首发，马刺会失去什么，又会得到什么？
我们知道尚帕尼首发打四号位时马刺是什么样子，我们也知道那非常棒。但我们也知道，去年这还不足以夺冠，他们需要更多的篮板、经验和自主得分创造力。
在未来的两年里，很可能会有那么一个时刻，尚帕尼会成为比哈里斯更高效的球员，以及首发阵容中更好的选择。但目前看来情况并非如此，即使确实如此，马刺在将位置交给年轻人之前，先让在这家联盟担任了十年首发的老将出场也是合情合理的。这是事物发展的自然规律，就像去年尚帕尼接替巴恩斯时发生的那样。
如果马刺让哈里斯首发，而效果远比预期的要差，他们可以说：“好吧，我们尝试过了，但没有成功，换回那套赢得西部冠军的阵容吧。”但如果效果如他们所愿呢？哈里斯可能会成为那个决定他们是捧起拉里·奥布莱恩杯，还是眼睁睁看着别人捧杯的关键先生。
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：12 Reasons Tobias Harris Should Start for the Spurs
12 Reasons Tobias Harris Should Start for the Spurs
LAS VEGAS – The basketball world convened inside the air-conditioned oasis of the Thomas & Mack Center, both to watch the newest prospects at Summer League and to discuss topics as hot as the air fryer of Vegas in July.
Where will LeBron play next? What’s going on with Kawhi and the Aspiration investigation? That Gary Trent Jr. thing sure is weird. Victor Wembanyama took less money, and the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown, and what does that all mean for the collective bargaining agreement and the way teams operate in the apron era? The Lakers made a bunch of moves including a big gamble on Walker Kessler. The Giannis trade barely registered on the Richter scale.
It makes sense that those stories are the ones dominating headlines, and plenty of ink has been spilled about them by people smarter than me. When I saw those people around, I asked them a couple of questions about a story that has hardly been a blip on the radar this NBA offseason, but could help decide a champion in 11 months.
The consensus from people I spoke with, from the Spurs orbit to basketball operations folks and media members across the league, is that Harris will be an impactful addition to what the Spurs already have cooking.
“He’s exactly what they were missing,” said one reporter who summed up the overall feelings on the acquisition around the league.
On his show Zach Lowe praised the move as “purely additive,” which feels like an excellent description.
By signing Harris, the Spurs are saying loud and clear after their Finals run that they wanted to make a sensible upgrade instead of a seismic change. Switching up the starting five that got San Antonio within a few wins of the Larry O’Brien trophy is a risk, but of all the players they could have realistically brought in this summer, Harris is the one who makes the most sense as a starter.
“Will Tobias Harris start for the Spurs?”
When I asked this follow up to people outside the Spurs, responses took a second and ranged from “I don’t think so” to “yeah, probably” in a way that showed that the answer isn’t clear cut and the person being asked hadn’t thought too much about the question until right then.
A majority of them wound up in the “yeah, probably” camp, and for a variety of reasons I would guess that they’re correct. Let’s go through them.
1. Tobias Harris is Really Good
For a while now, NBA fans at large have struggled to understand that Tobias Harris is a really good basketball player. That’s mainly because many seven summers ago the Philadelphia 76ers decided to pay him a 5-year max contract worth $180 million and trade Jimmy Butler.
The business side of this sport has become so intertwined in the media coverage and the discussions amongst fans because it has such an outsized impact on the team you can construct and the success you can have. A very good player on a long-term max contract is seen as a distressed asset by GMs around the league, and on a perception level Harris’ excellent production stands in the shadow of the deal he signed two contracts ago.
Nov 2, 2019; Portland, OR, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward James Ennis III (11) and 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) celebrate after teammate Philadelphia’s guard Ben Simmons (25) make two free throws to give Sixers a 126-125 lead over Portland Trail Blazers with 10 seconds left in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports
But that contract is long gone, and Tobias Harris is still a really good basketball player. Two years and $31 million is less than he could have made elsewhere, but at this stage in his career he wants to win. Once viewed as overpaid, the Spurs worked their way into becoming a team that could attract Harris’ services at a discount.
In the playoffs Harris rose to the occasion as Detroit’s second-best player. His per-game averages of 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 made 3-pointers, 1.5 steals, and 35 minutes all ranked in the top three on a Pistons squad that won 60 games to lead the entire Eastern Conference.
With rough spacing and little shot creation outside of Cade Cunningham, the 15-year veteran had to get buckets the hard way. On a Spurs team with more options, he should get cleaner looks and better efficiency. He might have thought the same as he watched the Finals. In fact, he fits in pretty perfectly with what San Antonio needed.
2. Addressing Spurs’ Biggest Needs
San Antonio had an incredible roster this past season, and elevating Julian Champagnie to the starting group over Harrison Barnes raised the floor and the ceiling. His shooting, defense, and rebounding ability are all vital tools for a player on the floor with Victor Wembanyama, and he helped propel this team to the Finals.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) brings the ball up court against San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the second quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
All throughout the playoffs and especially in the Finals, it became crystal clear what kind of player the Spurs should try to add to their depth. They needed someone with size on the wing and experience in addition to shooting, rebounding, and defense. Bonus points if that guy is a locker room leader, and super duper extra bonus points if that guy can put the ball on the floor and get up his own shot if the offense breaks down.
Harris checks every box in a way that should raise the floor and raise the ceiling once again.
3. More Size, Same Style
The Spurs’ starting lineup was a little bit small outside of Wembanyama, featuring a bunch of versatile players between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-6. That made them fast and switchable on the perimeter, but left them vulnerable against teams with more size in the frontcourt. Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and even Stephon Castle did a good job of guarding those players and punishing them with speed and spacing, but Mitch Johnson could have used a reliable option at 6-foot-8 or taller.
Tobias Harris adds everything San Antonio wants at that position of need while requiring absolutely zero changes to the scheme on either end. He can space the floor, finish at the rim, run in transition, grab boards, and guard multiple positions.
4. Experienced Production
Harrison Barnes and Luke Kornet entered the postseason as the only NBA champions on the roster and the only rotation players with real playoff experience. They saw their minutes dip in the postseason, as they joined Bismack Biyombo, Kelly Olynyk, and Mason Plumlee as vets who shared their wisdom mainly from the bench.
The Spurs led every game in the Finals and watched the lead slip away in four of the five games. How many times did it feel like this young group needed a guiding hand, a steady veteran presence on the floor with them?
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1), guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) wait for substitution calls during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs against Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Enter 15-year pro’s pro Tobias Harris.
This guy has been in the NBA since Obama’s first term, and he could tell you everything that’s changed since then and everything that’s exactly the same. He’s averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds over the course of that career, and at age 34 averaged better than that in the playoffs last year. He’s consistent, durable, and smart. He’s been praised as a locker room leader everywhere he’s been, and poured a considerable amount of money back into the communities he’s been a part of.
Harris came back to Detroit and helped change the culture as that young team went from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the Eastern Conference. He has the experience to be that sort of leader, and he still has the athleticism and skill to be the second-best player on a very good team in the playoffs.
Harris has started every game he’s appeared in over the last nine seasons, 649 to be exact.
5. Rebounds and Defense
Harris averaged 7.2 rebounds per game in the playoffs, which would have been second on the Spurs behind Wemby at 10.9 and above Champagnie and Vassell at 5.7 and 5.6 respectively. A little extra rebounding and size on the glass goes a long way, especially as teams use multiple guys to keep Wembanyama off the boards.
His size adds a dimension to the Spurs’ defense as he’ll be able to match mass with some of the bigger wings out there, but he’s also quick enough to stay in front of smaller guards and pick pockets. His 1.5 steals per game in the playoffs were more than anyone on San Antonio, with Champagnie, Fox and Vassell each snagging 1.3.
May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) dribbles against Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
6. Shooting Stays Solid
The main area where Champagnie has a clear edge over Harris is his volume as a 3-point shooter. Last year Champagnie shot 38% on 6.2 attempts per game, while Harris hit 37% on 3.5 attempts per game. About 74% of Champagnie’s shot attempts were beyond the arc, compared to a third of Harris’ attempts.
On some level, it’s beneficial for the Spurs to have a designated sniper who does most of his work from beyond. Defenders have to stay a little bit more attached, and spacing the floor around Wemby and these guards is of chief concern.
But Tobias Harris hits a high enough percentage from deep that defenses have to respect him out there, and he’ll probably get a lot of clean looks in the flow of this offense as someone who won’t be expected to create his own basket. The fantastic news for the Spurs is that if they need him to do that in a pinch, he can.
May 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) shoots in the second half against the Orlando Magic during game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
7. Harris Gets Buckets
When the going got tough for Detroit, the Pistons said, “Please help us, Tobias Harris.”
Watch his highlight reel, and it will jump off the screen how many times he had to make something shake to beat the buzzer. Watch all the shots he took in the playoffs, and it will become immediately apparent why his efficiency stats weren’t the greatest in that run.
The offensive engine in Cade Cunningham wasn’t firing on all cylinders in the postseason, and short of other playmaking options they turned to Harris when nothing was doing. Working with 90’s spacing and defenses who could key in on him, the sturdy vet carried out the thankless, doomed task of attempting to bail out a sinking ship with only a bucket.
Speaking of buckets, though, Harris’ ability to create some for himself will be a crucial safety valve for a Spurs team that won’t need to rely on it as a primary or secondary source of scoring chances. As talented as San Antonio is, there were times in the postseason when the offense sputtered and the clock ticked down. If the defense is selling out on protecting the rim and running shooters off the line, and the soft underbelly of the undesirable mid-range shot is the cleanest opportunity, Harris can knock them down.
In the regular season he shot about 49% on nearly 300 attempts between the restricted area and the 3-point arc. 60% of those makes were unassisted. According to the NBA’s play tracking data, he hit 42-73 shots classified as turnaround jumpers or turnaround fadeaway jumpers, and over 90% of them were unassisted. For comparison, Champagnie tried just 64 shots in between the restricted area and the arc and hit under 35%.
This is not to say that Champagnie should attempt more 16-footers, or that San Antonio should build their offense around Harris doing it, but the fact that Harris can do it opens up a lot for the Spurs schematically.
8. Can’t Hide a Defender
Champagnie is a dangerous shooter, but opponents like to hide their weakest perimeter defender on him because he’s not a threat to bully his way to the rim. A smaller primary playmaker like Jalen Brunson or Shai-Gilgeous Alexander can survive on defense if they just have to follow a shooter around the arc, make it difficult for him to catch it, and get a solid shot contest.
Swap Champagnie for Harris, and the opponent no longer has that option. Tobias Harris can and will put smaller defenders in the torture chamber and work them in the post until the defense figures out a better idea.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the second half of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Only 18 players posted up more times than Harris last season, and at 1.11 points per possession he ranked near the top quartile. The list of players who posted up more often and generated more points per post-up looks like this: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan, Luka Doncic.
San Antonio won’t be running the offense through Harris on the block, but they might start if teams try to hide their offense-focused small guard on him. Those guys will instead be forced to get blown past by De’Aaron Fox, or beat up by Steph Castle, or deal with Devin Vassell who is a more dynamic scoring threat than Champagnie.
9. Balance the Rotation
Even if the roster was constructed differently, Harris would have a strong case to be a starter based on everything laid out above. But with the pieces the Spurs have added and kept during the offseason, putting Harris into the starting group is the move that balances the rotation.
Dylan Harper will probably continue coming off the bench to make sure there’s a star guard - or really any guard - in the second unit. With that understood, there’s only so many ways the Spurs can organize their rotation. The option where Harris starts makes everything fall into a logical place, and the other option puts a lot of guys outside their optimal position.
Harris Starting
- Starters: Fox - Castle - Vassell - Harris - Wembanyama
- Bench: Harper - Champagnie - Johnson - Bryant - Kornet
- Reserves: McLaughlin, Barnes, Reed
In this arrangement, the starting group gets the size it was missing in Harris while Champagnie slots into a more natural shooting guard role and Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant both remain where they’re most comfortable positionally.
Champagnie Starting
- Starters: Fox - Castle - Vassell - Champagnie - Wembanyamna
- Bench: Harper - Johnson - Bryant - Harris - Kornet
- Reserves: McLaughlin, Barnes, Reed
Everything that was balanced with Harris starting is unbalanced here. The starting unit remains small with Champagnie a bit out of position at power forward. Johnson is a bit oversized at the two, Bryant is a bit oversized at the three, and Harris is a bit overqualified to be the backup four.
10. Optimize Champagnie’s Optionality
Harris is still a very impactful player, and it’s probably best for both him and the Spurs if he’s the starter on opening night. He has the production, size and skills that the starting group needs, and his talents wouldn’t be used as well if he was coming off the bench.
Champagnie, on the other hand, has more to gain from a bench role. He’ll play at the two or three which is where he should be, and he’ll have a greener light to shoot the ball against weaker opponents.
Before Champagnie rose to the starting lineup for good last season, he was the guy who could fill in for anyone who needed a night off from point guard to power forward. Fox or Castle out? One is running point with Champagnie at shooting guard. Vassell out? Champagnie’s got plenty of size for the 3 and plays a very similar role. On a night when San Antonio is facing a smaller team, why not give Harris the night off and slot Champagnie back into the spot he was in last year?
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) reacts in the second half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Champagnie’s ability to cover almost any hole in the lineup is incredibly valuable in a reserve player over the course of an 82-game season, and will provide the Spurs with maximum optionality when it comes to dealing with the bumps and bruises every team deals with. Using him in this way reduces the knock-on effects any one injury can have, minimizing disruption through the rest of the rotation.
Harris doesn’t have that same plug-and-play versatility if he were to come off the bench, in fact, nobody other than Champagnie does.
11. Expectations After Contract Negotiations
34-year-old Tobias Harris and 25-year-old Julian Champagnie both signed contracts with the Spurs this offseason, with very different contexts and probably very different conversations. With no inside information, let’s take a look at the context and imagine what the conversations might have been like between each player and the team.
Champagnie
- New contract: 3 years, $45 million (descending)
- Previous contract: 4 years, $12 million
- Career earnings (including this contract): $54,212,373
Spurs’ theoretical pitch: "Julian, you’re Spurs family and it’s been incredible watching you grow. A few years ago you were cut and didn’t know if you’d have an NBA career, and now you’re a key piece of a team that made the Finals ahead of schedule. We have big plans to get back and get it done, and you’re a big part of them. We could press this button and pay you a paltry sum of $3 million for the upcoming year, but we’re not gonna do that. Instead we’ll sign you to a 3-year deal worth $45 million, quadruple your career earnings, and you’ll have another few chance to compete for a title with your brothers. How does that sound?
Harris
- New contract: 2 years, $30.84 million
- Previous contract: 2 years, $52 million
- Career earnings (including this contract): $331,343,705
Spurs’ theoretical pitch: “Hey Tobias, lots of people tell us you’d fit right in with the culture we’ve built here, and we totally agree. We’re knocking on the door of another championship, and we think you can help us kick that door down. Come to San Antonio. Bring your veteran leadership, your size on the wing, your team defense, rebounding, floor spacing and tough shotmaking. Under the brightest spotlight show the world how good a player Tobias Harris is and always has been. We know you can stay in Detroit where the team and the fans love you. We know other teams can offer you more than the two years and $31 million that we can. But none of them will give you a better chance at glory. Win a title here as the missing piece, and stamp your legacy forever.”
After this exercise, which again I stress is entirely theoretical and a reading of the publicly available tea leaves, which of these players would be more easily convinced to accept a bench role? Which of these players would likely be more insistent on starting, and who would the Spurs be more likely to accommodate there?
This is not to say that Harris demanded a starting spot as a condition of his signing, or that Champagnie has accepted a bench role, or that a decision has already been made one way or another. But it’s unlikely that these contracts were negotiated and signed with zero discussion of role, and if the Spurs had to sweeten the pot for anyone it would probably be Harris.
12. Low Risk, High Reward
What do the Spurs have to lose by starting Harris to start the season, and what do they have to gain?
We know what the Spurs look like with Julian Champagnie starting at the four, and we know it’s pretty great. We also know that last year, it wasn’t enough to win the title and they needed a bit more rebounding, experience, and shot creation out there.
There very well may come a time over the next two years where Julian Champagnie becomes a more productive player and a better option in the starting lineup than Tobias Harris. Right now that doesn’t seem to be the case, and even if it was it would probably make sense for the Spurs to roll with the veteran who has been starting in this league for a decade before handing the spot to the youngster. That’s the natural progression of things, and that’s what happened when Champagnie took over for Barnes last year.
If the Spurs start Harris and it goes way worse than anticipated, they can say, ‘well, we tried it and it didn’t work, back to the lineup that won the West.’ But if it works like they hope it will? Harris can be the man who makes the difference between hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy or watching someone else do it.
By Tom Petrini, via https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/onsi/12-reasons-tobias-harris-should-start-for-the-spurs
