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Tobias Harris said some Sixers fans would trade him for a cookie, so a company made a counter-offer

jack baer
Staff writer
·2 min read
51

It remains to be seen if Tobias Harris will be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers, but Philadelphians now have an added incentive to see him stay.

The veteran forward addressed his future in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia published Tuesday and was fairly blunt about how he thinks some Sixers fans regard him:

"Trade speculation, you know, casual Sixers fans, they'll trade me for a Crumbl Cookie," Harris. "But at the end of the day, they have to realize you're not getting a 6-foot-nine forward back who can, you know, damn near shoot 40 percent from three, guard other teams' best player, shoot, post-up, drive, play 70-plus games a year."

Fast forward a few hours and Crumbl Cookies was making its offer to Philadelphia: a free cookie for everyone, but only if Harris stays with the Sixers.

It should be noted this is some brilliant marketing by Harris, who has invested in multiple Philadelphia-area Crumbl Cookie locations and just gave them an incredible amount of free exposure.

Cookie or no, Harris' future looms large as the Sixers retool for the future after a disappointing and ultimately humiliating second-round playoff exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The team has already fired head coach Doc Rivers and replaced him with former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and might be about to say goodbye to former MVP James Harden, who holds a player option for next season.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on prior to game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Tobias Harris just pulled off some excellent cookie marketing. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Trading Harris would be another big change in the supporting cast around Joel Embiid. He's coming off a season in which he averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game — all his lowest marks since joining Philadelphia in 2019 — while shooting 50.1% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range.

While a large wing who can effectively shoot from deep is typically a very valuable player in the modern NBA, that is less true when his team is paying him $39.3 million for next season, as the Sixers are on track to do.

That salary might make it tempting to off-load Harris, but it also means the return for him would be limited at best. And given what the Sixers are reportedly asking for in trade negotiations, Crumbl might want to start getting its cookies ready.