Former NBA Player Calls Montrezl Harrell a ‘Defensive Liability’ for LA Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers signing Montrezl Harrell will definitely add another layer of rivalry with the Clippers. The two teams were predicted to go head to head in the Western Conference Finals last season, battling it out to reach the title. However, the Clippers’ disgraceful loss to the Denver Nuggets prevented that from happening.

The Clippers had a 3-1 lead against the Nuggets in a series which most fans thought already thought had a winner and a loser. But the Nuggets had done it before. They had just beat the Utah Jazz despite being behind two games. And then the Clippers became prey to the same attack, one which will take decades for the franchise to forget.

What was the reason for this tragedy? Well, it was very clear that the chemistry between the Clippers’ players was missing. This became even more evident after Game 2 against the Nuggets. Paul George and Harrell got into a heated argument in the locker room and it was just downhill from there.

With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George being the key players for Clippers, it was clear that Harrell was most likely not going to be re-signed. However, nobody would have imagined that he would ultimately sign with his former team’s arch-nemesis, the Lakers.

Why didn’t the Clippers want Montrezl Harrell back?

When he joined the other LA team, Trez mentioned the Clippers didn’t want him back. But why is that? Was it because of him butting heads with George? Or was it something else entirely?

Well, it looks like Jalen Rose knows. On ESPN, Rose stated, “He ruined some of his value by playing poorly in the playoffs. You’re going to see a lot of people get big deals this offseason. The reason why he didn’t get a long-term deal is because he was a defensive liability that the Joker [Nikola Jokic] continued to take advantage of, to the point that they had to take him out of the game.”

Rose further explained why Harrell picked the Lakers. “If the Clippers stepped up and signed him to a big deal or if Charlotte would have given him a big deal, or if any team would have given him a big deal, guess what? He would have signed with that team,” said Jalen. “He signed with the Lakers because they were offering him a two-year deal, an opportunity to win a championship, and he hopes to replay his value as somebody that won Sixth Man of The Year.”

Will Harrell be able to achieve what he set out to with the Lakers? Or will he be a defensive liability here as well?