Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That’s how J. B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the Detroit Pistons, feels right now about his veteran forward, whom they acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harris is putting up lower numbers than he did with his previous team, but the Pistons are performing better in the standings. They are the best team in the league heading into the All-Star break and have been the top team in the Eastern Conference since the first week of the season.
Bickerstaff credits Harris as one of the key players who helped turn around a disappointing season from two years ago. The Pistons were the worst team in 2024 and even suffered a league-worst 28-game losing streak (tied with the Sixers). However, in 2025, they reached the playoffs.
Harris has a smaller role compared to his time with the Sixers, but what he does goes beyond the stat sheet.
Sixers easily moved on from him. He even got booed when returned the Xfinity Arena wearing the Pistons uniform.
J.B. Bickerstaff thinks Harris is their glue guy
The coach credits Harris as their glue guy. He is also astounded that the Sixers treated him unfairly.
“The more I’m around him, the more I feel for how poorly he was treated in Philly,” he said during an interview with Road Trippin.
“It makes absolutely no sense. He’s an amazing dude that does whatever you need him to do. If you go back and watch our playoff series last year, he had to guard Karl-Anthony Towns. He was getting like 14 rebounds a night. He makes shots. He goes to the post and gets his little middy. When you need a bucket, you can go to him.”
The Pistons are built around up-and-coming stars, including MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, who is just 25 years old, and first-time All-Star Jalen Duren, 22.
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