Tobias Harris could be the NBA's most dangerous problem solver

The 2026-27 Spurs will beat teams in a myriad of ways. They'll bully opponents in the paint with Victor Wembanyama, Tarris Reed Jr., Stephon Castle, and more. They'll also punish you from three with Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, etc.

San Antonio can dominate games from those two areas alone, making defenses put everything into stopping it, but Tobias Harris is the piece that will blow up their game plans.

The ex-Pistons forward can exploit that space without needing the offense built around him. But the even bigger benefit of his presence is knowing he can stabilize virtually any lineup Mitch Johnson throws on the court.

Harris gives the Spurs an answer for every defensive choice

If teams want to block off the paint, that's no problem for Harris. He can bury the three-ball, but he can also pull up in the midrange and put points on the board regardless.

Analytics made everyone believe that only threes and layups or dunks should be attempted at volume, but the name of the game is to score. As long as you can defend and get buckets, you'll be fine. San Antonio can do both extremely well.

Those defenses might choose to stay home on Harris, opening up the floor for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs' three-headed playmaking monster. But he doesn't have to be an afterthought. You can also bring him into the action directly to be the screener in pick-and-roll actions where he can pop and shoot, attack closeouts, roll, or post up a smaller guy.

His three-level scoring means the Spurs don't have to manufacture a particular matchup to get value from him. Harris is the ultimate pressure-release valve for every other offensive weapon on the team.

Harris can make almost any Spurs lineup work

There's been a lot of talk about what Tobi's role will be. Will he be a starter or come off the bench? That's merely a matter of preference because the Spurs can thrive with either decision.

He's been one of the main cogs in an offense during the high points of his career. The 15-year forward has also taken a backseat, functioning as a complementary player. He understands how to play with and without the ball.

Having great measurables is one thing, but knowing how to use them is another. Harris knows how to use his size and versatility to help his team make the right decisions on any given play. The package he brings allows him to fit beside stars, young players, small lineups, and bigger ones.

That makes him particularly useful if Coach Johnson wants to experiment throughout the regular season.

Most role players need the right situation to maximize their value. Tobias Harris helps create the right situation himself. It's what makes him an elite problem-solver, and on this roster, that's incredibly dangerous.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow