LA Clippers center Montrezl Harrell will be an unrestricted free agent this fall, though he could still return to the Clippers next season.
The LA Clippers season ended sooner than most expected, with a crushing collapse in the Western Conference Semifinals at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Montrezl Harrell played a big role in getting the Clippers to that point in the first place.
The center followed up his 2018-19 breakout with a better season in 2019-20. He averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, both career highs. He also received his first major NBA accolade, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Harrell’s role faded slightly in the postseason, though. He averaged just 18.7 minutes per game during the playoffs, down over nine minutes from his regular season numbers. Reports suggest his postseason role may have played a role in Doc Rivers’ exit this week.
With the Clippers collapse as the backdrop, Harrell enters unrestricted free agency for the first time. In 2018, Harrell signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Clippers, departing from the Houston Rockets. He’s in line for a significant raise from that $6 million annual salary.
It might not be as much as he initially could’ve hoped for, though. The coronavirus pandemic will likely depress the salary cap and result in less money to spend around the league. Harrell may be better off signing a short-term deal so he can re-enter free agency in a couple of years.
There’s still a chance the Clippers will re-sign Harrell. These three teams are the biggest threats to attain his services this fall.