For the first time in franchise history, the Los Angeles Clippers were title contenders this season with superstars and L.A. natives Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the charge. Before the season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Clippers were in second place in the Western Conference standings with an impressive record of 44-20.
Only LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers had a better record than the Clippers. However, the Clips did go 2-1 against the Lakers, proving to the world they are more than capable of taking on The King and The Brow in a seven-game playoff series should the two teams meet in the postseason.
Leonard was putting up 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Meanwhile, George was averaging 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists after missing the beginning of the season recovering from two offseason shoulder surgeries. The two Cali stars are eager to deliver the Clippers franchise its first title.
Clipper fans are praying the season resumes since this was the first time a Clipper squad had a legit shot of winning the championship. However, if the season ends up getting canceled, L.A. President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank has to turn his attention to Montrezl Harrell's free agency.
Harrell becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Clippers have to do WHATEVER it takes to bring him back. If that means going into the luxury tax, so be it. The Clips can't afford to lose arguably their four-best player on the team behind Leonard, George, and Lou Williams, respectively.
Before the 2019-20 season was suspended, Harrell was averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Clippers. He and Williams were giving the team a combined 37.3 points per game off the bench. The energy Harrell plays with is contagious. The Clippers are a force on defense when Leonard, George, Patrick Beverley, and Harrell are all locked in.
It's not a stretch to say that the Clippers would lose a part of their identity and spirit if Harrell wasn't on the team. The Clips have to be careful because there is going to be a bevy of teams that are going to pursue the 26-year-old.
Harrell, a North Carolina native, has career NBA averages of 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He was the 32nd overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Clippers acquired Trez from the Houston Rockets in the Chris Paul trade. Since coming to Los Angeles, Harrell has averaged 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game. That's production the Clippers simply can't afford to lose off their bench.
Back in February, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the Clippers are interested in re-signing Harrell and Marcus Morris. The Clippers acquired Morris from the New York Knicks at the NBA trade deadline, giving up a first-round pick in the process. L.A. will have the non-bird rights on Morris, which means they can pay him up to $18 million in year one of his next contract based on his 2019-20 salary of $15 million.
You can understand why the Clippers want to re-sign Morris. After giving up a first-round pick to get him, losing the veteran swingman for nothing would hurt. Morris struggled shooting the ball in 12 games with the Clippers. He shot 38.6 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 15.8 points.
Harrell should be a priority over Morris. He's been with the team longer and you can't replace or teach the chemistry he and Williams have on the court.
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