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Montrezl Harrell and Luka Doncic exchanged multiple pleasantries during the first-round series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.
But is it possible the two could be teammates next year?
Harrell will be a free agent this offseason, and Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated reports “NBA gossip says the Mavs are interested.”
The Mavs have made it clear they hope to add toughness around Doncic in the offseason, and Harrell might also be the kind of rim-runner who can eat minutes for Dallas off the bench.
As Fisher noted, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the Clippers and Harrell have interest in a reunion next season. But there are reasons to believe Harrell will be on a different team next season.
For starters, Harrell has been at the center of internal turmoil. He criticized the team's lack of heart in February, and he also reportedly got into it with Paul George in Game 2 of the Clippers' second-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
Secondly, Harrell hardly played in the postseason. He averaged 18.7 minutes per game after averaging close to 27 minutes per game during the regular season.
Not to mention, Harrell could command a hefty sum after winning Sixth Man of the Year. The big man averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in the regular season before struggling through the playoffs.
The Mavs would need to make the money work, considering they already owe over $108 million in guaranteed contracts, assuming Tim Hardaway Jr. accepts his hefty team option.
One such option could possibly involve a sign-and-trade sending forward Dwight Powell to the Clippers, especially because the Mavs' frontcourt would be crowded otherwise.
Dallas is hoping to take the next step as a team. Perhaps the undersized Harrell could add the intangibles the Mavs need around Luka Doncic.
