Tobias Harris Discusses Changing Positions For Sixers With PJ Tucker On Board

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers went out and got busy in the offseason, bringing in PJ Tucker fairly quickly in free agency. The addition brings toughness and an ability to contribute at both ends, but it also means Tobias Harris has to change positions again.

Harris, a natural power forward, will move to small forward to accommodate Tucker, who is a power forward. Harris last played the small forward position for the Sixers in the 2019-20 season when the team had Al Horford, and the results weren’t great.

However, Tucker is a different player than Horford. Harris also isn’t worried about having to move back to the small forward position.

“I mean, Doc (Rivers) says the 3 and the 4 are pretty identical,” said Harris on Monday at media day. “Probably the only adjustment would be who you’re guarding defensively. Last year, I was guarding 2s, 3s, 4s, so I don’t think it’s that much of an adjustment, to be honest. They’re identical positions.”

Harris took big steps in the 2021-22 season. He adjusted again to a new role once James Harden joined the team. He will have to adjust his role again with Tucker on board, but he had a similar role while with the Los Angeles Clippers playing next to Danilo Gallinari with Rivers as the coach.

“When I played in LA, myself and Gallinari were the 3, 4 and we never really labeled ourselves as 3 or 4, it was just forward,” Harris added. “So I think that’s kind of the same adjustment here. Obviously, you’ll see what positions we’re in offensively as a group, but in terms of playing the 3 of the 4, they’re pretty identical, to be honest.”

It will be interesting to see how the Sixers make all of this work, but this might be the most talented roster they’ve had during the Joel Embiid era. Harris and Tucker will play a part in the team’s success no matter what position they play.