The trade deadline is bound to bring along plenty of interesting names, but none are more exciting than those that weren't expected to be there in the first place. Among them is Los Angeles Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell, who will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Sagar Trika aka @BlazersBySagar).
If Harrell is actually available, he could quickly overshadow players like Danilo Gallinari and Marcus Morris, standing right below that Kevin Love tier at the power forward position (though he primarily plays center for LA). He's making a mere $6 million this season, which is a true bargain for teams shopping on a tight budget.
The Clippers paid Kawhi Leonard a max three-year contract, as well as reeling in the bulk of Paul George's four-year, $137 million contract. They signed Patrick Beverley, Ivica Zubac, Rodney McGruder and JaMychal Green — a spending summer that will likely cost them a strong player in Harrell who will command some hefty money.
There still is a chance they keep Harrell, as he has been vital filling in for Zubac at center, providing that much-needed punch off the bench that makes the Clippers the best in the league in scoring by reserves.
Harrell's pick-and-roll ability with Lou Williams is something the Clippers have weaponized into nightly offense, a pick-your-poison predicament that has turned into a win-win for LA.
Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension with the Clippers in 2018, but Harrell could command much more than $8 million per year as an unrestricted free agent.
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