[ad_1]
Fans may have missed out on a playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, but competition between the two franchises has spread in free agency with the Lakers signing Montrezl Harrell away from the Clippers.
Harrell, speaking to reporters on Monday on a video conference call for the first time since signing a two-year, $ 19 million contract to join Purple and Gold, said his former team had helped make the decision for him.
The reigning sixth man of the year winner was asked during the appeal whether the Clippers, the team he has played for the past three seasons, wanted him to return.
“I mean, it goes without saying,” replied Harrell, 26. “Apparently not if I’m on the other side. So that’s what it is, really.”
He was then asked if he had wanted to return to the Clippers after reaching career highs averaging (18.6) and rebounds (7.1) last season, coming off the bench in 61 of 63 regular season games. which he played.
“I think if you spend your career in any place long enough, you’re going to want to keep playing there and keep growing there,” Harrell said. “So of course I still have great respect for these guys and for this organization. But like I said, as long as they wanted me to come back, obviously it doesn’t seem like that, n ‘is this not?”
Harrell’s new deal includes a player option for the 2021-22 season that will see him enter free agency in the summer of 2021 if he wishes, as the free agency market is expected to be more robust with teams with a money cap. spend.
“Honestly, it’s a business decision,” he said when asked why he decided to play for the Lakers among several teams vying for his service. “I felt it was the right decision for me. I spoke to my family and, you know, that’s where we decided I wanted to go. Simple as that.… I will. definitely be with a team that wanted me. “
The five-year veteran, selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, the same agent shared by the Lakers’ top two stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
While Harrell compared Klutch to “like family,” he downplayed James and Davis’ influence on his choice to play for the other team at Staples Center.
“As far as my decision goes, it had no effect, because in the end, my decision didn’t affect either of these guys’ lives in terms of their conditions. life, ”he said. “I have a family that I have to support, so my decision was my decision.”
On the other side of the coin, Harrell was asked what it was like to leave teammates like Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, who he regrouped with to keep the Clippers competitive as the franchise passed through its days. “Lob City” with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to his two new greats, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
“They understand the business,” Harrell said. “I learned the trade from these guys, man. Guys like Lou who’ve been traded multiple times in a season, a guy like Pat who I’ve played most of my career with, who I’ve been with ended up working. They understand and they’ve basically taught me that it’s a business, whatever [what]. If you are not one of our best players in the league, who we all know who those players are, everyone is replaceable. “
The Clippers were betting favorites to win it all last season and now the defending Lakers champions hold that title – backed by the addition of Harrell, of course. Harrell, who will wear No.15 for the Lakers, said being on the other side of rivalry with City wouldn’t be a difficult adjustment.
“I don’t think it’s going to be something we have to change because at the end of the day the basketball game is our job,” said Harrell. “When I played for the Clippers, I gave him everything I had every night when I put on my sneakers. And now that I’m here with the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s the same thing I’m going to do here.
“It’s my job, and I’m fortunate to be part of a team that was strong and deep enough and has enough talent to win the championship last year. So me, I just joined the mix, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help them get back to the same place. Considering I wasn’t there last year and they won it, I’m just trying come in and do what I can to help rehearse. “
[ad_2]
Source link