Tobias Harris' Future in Detroit Clouds as Bickerstaff Defends Vet and Pistons Eye 2026 Draft Replacement
Tobias Harris finds himself both defended by his coach and discussed as a potential future draft vacancy as the Pistons balance veteran leadership with long-term roster building. Head coach Bickerstaff praised Harris’s off-court value and said he was treated poorly in his previous stint, while front-office planning points to the 2026 Draft as the logical place to look for a long-term power forward replacement.
Tobias Harris: Bickerstaff calls him a 'glue guy' and says he was treated poorly
Bickerstaff used a post–All-Star Weekend interview to single out Tobias Harris as the Pistons’ locker-room glue, stressing his steadiness, professionalism and mentorship. He said the more he’s around Harris the more he feels for how poorly Harris was treated during his time in his previous city. The coach highlighted concrete moments from Harris’s recent history, noting a playoff stretch in which Harris was tasked with guarding a premier opposing big man and was pulling down large rebounding totals, and emphasizing Harris’s ability to score dependable midrange buckets.
Beyond on-court tasks, Bickerstaff framed Harris as a consistent presence in the locker room who teaches younger teammates about the game and life off the court. That characterization is bolstered by the veteran’s current season averages — 13. 4 points and 4. 9 rebounds per game — metrics that Bickerstaff argued don’t capture Harris’s full value to a developing roster.
Pistons eye 2026 draft as potential Tobias Harris replacement
At the same time, the organization is already planning for the day a long-term replacement is needed. Harris is playing on an expiring deal, and while a reunion on a smaller salary and role next offseason remains possible, team evaluators are scouting the 2026 Draft for power forwards who could grow into the role. One name mentioned as a realistic target is Thomas Haugh of Florida, described as an all-around, high-motor forward with shooting ability and the type of role-player skill set that complements star teammates rather than demanding the ball.
The Pistons’ draft position has improved in recent offseasons; a pick swap acquired in the Jaden Ivey trade now sits at the 21st pick, increasing the team’s chances of landing an impact prospect in that range. Team voices have emphasized that no rookie will instantly replace Harris’s veteran leadership and intangibles, but front-office planning balances that respect for present contributions with the practical need to develop long-term, cost-controlled pieces.
Short-term role remains significant as Pistons cope with absences
Practically, Tobias Harris remains an important rotation piece. With multiple frontcourt players suspended, Harris is expected to play a larger role when the team returns to action tomorrow night (ET) against the New York Knicks. The two developments — Bickerstaff’s public defense of Harris’s treatment and the franchise’s search for a future replacement in the 2026 Draft — illustrate the dual path the Pistons are walking: valuing a veteran presence now while preparing for roster turnover later.
That balancing act will shape roster conversations over the coming months. Harris’s expiring contract and the club’s improved draft positioning ensure both immediate and long-range strategy will factor into decisions about whether to bring him back on different financial terms or accelerate the transition to a younger power forward brought in through the draft.
Either way, the narrative around Tobias Harris in Detroit this season is no longer just about box-score production. It’s about mentorship, perceived mistreatment in a prior stop, and a franchise actively weighing how to bridge present stability with future roster construction.
