Former Tennessee forward and NBA veteran Tobias Harris is in the second and final season of a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, and could be used as trade fuel at some point this season. He’s been a veteran presence on the Pistons’ league-leading roster, averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a 33-year-old.
While it is just speculation, there has been some talk about him potentially being used as trade bait. Detroit is reportedly interested in the possibility of trading for Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, and Harris could very well be part of a package that the teams swap.
“Three Eastern Conference teams that I’m told will emerge as suitors for Anthony Davis are the (Detroit) Pistons, (Toronto) Raptors, and the Atlanta Hawks,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said on a recent episode of NBA Today.
During the same episode, ESPN NBA Insider Bobby Marks drew up a hypothetical package on how Dallas could get Davis to Detroit. The trade includes sending Davis to the Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, and Ron Holland.
The Davis-to-Detroit rumors are just speculation, though. It’s analysts coming up with potential routes and options around the report that Detroit could be interested. If the Pistons decide to go all in on Davis, though, it does feel plausible that Harris could get moved in the deal.
Dallas might not be the only trade destination for Harris. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley put out a new article on Monday that revolved around one potential trade that every NBA team could make at the deadline. Buckey’s proposed trade for the Pistons doesn’t include the Mavericks, but does involve Harris. Buckey has Detroit giving away Harris, Holland, and two first-round picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey, and Micah Peavy.
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After playing six years with the 76ers, Harris signed with Detroit for his second stint with the Pistons in the summer of 2024. He averaged 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on the year, but wasn’t called up to be the team’s leading scorer or playmaker. Harris was effective as a veteran player who knew what he was doing on the court and could help build up the Pistons’ other stars.
He’s been slightly better this year in the scoring department, but is ultimately playing a very similar season statistically to last season. He’s currently averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
From a Tennessee perspective, Harris has had the opportunity to unite with another former Volunteer player at times this season with rookie guard Chaz Lanier, who was taken in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Lanier has gotten a few moments on the court this year, but has also spent some time with the Pistons’ G-League team. By all accounts, though, Detroit likes what it has with Lanier. He’s only with the G-League to keep him fresh because of the stacked roster that the Pistons have already assembled.
Will VFL Tobias Harris be used as trade fuel in another blockbuster Anthony Davis deal? We’ll have to wait and see to find out. But it does sound like the former Vol could be part of those talks, as long as they are ongoing.
