Former Pistons guard spoke honestly about Tobias Harris

The Detroit Pistons have acquired several former Philadelphia 76ers players over the past year. The team briefly acquired veteran defenseman Shake Milton last season. Milton made the team a day before the 2024 NBA trade deadline in exchange for Monte Morris.

After a 38-game stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Milton played four games with the Pistons. He averaged 16 minutes on the court, shooting 42 percent from the field and scoring seven points per game.

With the Pistons in the midst of a 14-win year, the team allowed the veteran guard to re-enter the free agent market and find competition. Nearly a month after being traded to Detroit, Milton reached a buyout from the Pistons. He joined the New York Knicks via free agency and was signed to Brooklyn last summer.

As Milton finds new life, the veteran quarterback saw a couple of his former teammates head to one of his final stops. Back in July, the Pistons signed Tobias Harris to a two-year free agent contract. Since his second season in the league, Milton has played alongside Harris.

Knowing everything he knows about the Pistons and the young guys within the organization, the 28-year veteran sees big benefits from having Harris on a rebuilding team.

“I mean, Tobias is the ultimate professional,” Milton said. Pistons in SI. “So he’s going to help get what this team needs.”

Since his first full season in a Sixers uniform, Harris has been praised not only for his leadership, but especially for his ability to adapt to any situation and adjust his role accordingly. Although Harris received a lot of criticism from outsiders due to the fact that his statistics generally did not match his salary while working on a max deal, those within the organization always had a positive outlook when it came to Harris.

“Just being around him, the young guys will be able to see how a pro moves and what it’s like to come in early and stay late,” Milton added. “Even outside of the off-court stuff, Tobias is going to be an asset to everyone around him, especially those guys in that locker room. I have no doubt about it.”

The Pistons are a young team that has lacked proper leadership over the years. Even though they’ve had a lot of seasoned veterans come and go lately, they’ve had a hard time finding consistent leadership. When Trajan Langdon and the front office invested $52 million in Harris last summer, they did so with the intention of keeping Harris as a core player as they work to build it into a more competitive franchise for years to come.

The Pistons have enjoyed Harris’ presence so far. While the veteran forward is still adjusting to the role that sees him moving up the offensive ranks, Harris has made an impact in several areas of the Pistons.

In six games with Detroit, Harris averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists. On Sunday, the Pistons and Nets will meet for the first time since Milton and Harris found a new home in the offseason.