Montrezl Harrell shocked some of his former teammates when he spurned the Los Angeles Clippers to sign with their Staples Center co-tenant, the Los Angeles Lakers, during the offseason.
Two weeks into the 2020-21 season, Harrell isn't regretting his decision to join the defending champions.
Harrell seems to be enjoying two specific differences between L.A.'s two contenders.
Number one? Chemistry.
“It’s definitely a great feeling to have chemistry and the camaraderie that the guys have with one another already early in the season,” Harrell said, via Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “Honestly, the only thing I think that’s going to happen is that it’s going to continue to grow. Guys, it’s a great vibe. It’s a great energy around us, man.”
The good vibes of last year's Lakers group was repeatedly cited as a major factor in their championship run — especially amid the bubble circumstances — as opposed to the Clippers, who were doomed by their lack of cohesion in Orlando.
Harrell also praised the freedom within Frank Vogel's offensive system.
“It’s really just being able to just play my game and just not being kind of told, ’You always got to be this, this or this.’ It’s kind of been the system I’ve kind of been playing in for a while. It’s got to be threes, layups or let’s get free throws. But that’s not like that over here,” said Harrell. “They play to the stye of everybody’s game, and we’re not looking at anybody that you have to do this, you got to do that, man. We play basketball over here with the Lakers. It’s a free-flowing game.”
Coming off a Sixth Man of the Year award, Harrell signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $19 million deal. Many folks around the league expected the 26-year old to secure a longer deal, but his disappointing playoff performance may have scared teams away, including the Clippers. Harrell averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 2019-20, but his production dipped considerably in the bubble (he was away from the team due to a family tragedy for most of July).
Upon news of Harrell's decision, Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley communicated his surprise on Twitter.
In early December, Beverley admitted to being caught off-guard by Harrell's move.
Harrell doesn't seem to have any qualms about his current situation. Through seven games in the purple-and-gold, he has already shown himself to be a useful sparkplug off the bench, and more dynamic than Dwight Howard in the backup center role.
Harrell is averaging 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25 minutes per game for the Lakers.
Despite the extra-short layoff, the Lakers have ridden their chemistry, superstars, and new additions like Harrell and Dennis Schroder to a 5-2 start, and right back at the top of the Western Conference.
Follow Us
Subscribe
