Elton Brand has assurances Sixers can retain both Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris

The Philadelphia 76ers made a big move before the trade deadline to acquire Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, but it puts the team in the position of having to try to find ways to reetain both him and Jimmy Butler this offseason.

According to general manager Elton Brand, Philadelphia’s ownership has given assurances that the team will be able to re-sign both players when they hit free agency, despite the fact that it’s bound to be an expensive proposition.

Elton Brand on whether it's possible to bring back both Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris this summer: "Absolutely. I've gotten all assurances from the managing partners that we can bring them back and sign them." #sixers

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) February 8, 2019

In other words, the 76ers are setting in for the long haul and trying to build a core around a big four of Harris, Butler, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid. The Harris deal was one of the biggest of the deadline and a clear statement of intent, indicating that Philadelphia has moved completely into full-on contender status and aims to remain there for years to come.