LeBron just gave Tobias Harris a potential gift Philly couldn't provide alone

LeBron James shifted the balance of power in the Eastern Conference when he chose Philly to be his next stop. They had a respectable squad before, but now, the 76ers are looked at as serious contenders. The Knicks are the only team in the East with better odds, according to FanDuel.

Ironically, as much as Philadelphia is dying to win their first championship since 1983, making it to the NBA Finals could set them up for an incredibly dreadful scenario. If the Spurs make it back to dance, Tobias Harris could be a huge factor in shutting down their hopes and dreams.

As the face of immense frustrations during his tenure, that would be a special kind of pain for the City of Brotherly Love.

Tobias Harris could become the villain Philadelphia never imagined

Harris played in Philly for six seasons and averaged 17.6 points per game for the duration. He provided a bit of rebounding, some solid free-throw and three-point shooting, and hit-or-miss defense. That wasn't enough for them, and Sixers fans let him know it often.

If we're being fair to all parties involved, neither side was to blame. Critics were upset that Harris wasn't providing max contract production despite signing a superstar's deal, but Tobi was not, and never has been, a max guy. He's an upper-echelon role player, and he played like it. No reasonable person would expect him to turn down a huge payday, though.

The explanations didn't matter at the time, but how could they? When you're caught up in the season, living and dying with each dribble, it's hard to see the forest through the trees. Fans just want accountability, answers, and above all, they want to win. You can't blame them for that.

However, the Philly faithful have a reputation for being pretty brash. It's not easy to play in that city, and they made life a little difficult for Tobias. The New York-bred hooper was booed, scolded, and cursed every which way. He took it all in stride and was even gracious in his departure, but he's still human.

If Harris were to face them in an NBA Finals, you can bet damn well the Sixers fans wouldn't be kind. They'd constantly clown him for his time in Philly during road games, trying to make him as miserable as possible. You can also bet that he'd take pleasure in sticking it to them with a Spurs win. I know I would.

We're still a long way from this potential scenario becoming a reality, but it is possible. LeBron made it so. And who doesn't love a good revenge story?

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