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Show Harrell doesn’t know how close he is to having it, a firsthand look at how life can be different in Los Angeles for a Laker – no more fighting for attention in a market that is crazy for purple and gold, especially with another championship banner in their possession.
But he was there, Monday afternoon in his first official act, with a loving eye still focused on his past, insinuating a truth that was lost in the hum of his free flip. Harrell, the sixth reigning man of the year, is a Laker – but only because the Clippers decided not to take him back.
“They were a team that wanted me and the team that was really really about me,” Harrell said of the Lakers. “I am honored and grateful for this and blessed to be here.”
When asked specifically if he thinks the Clippers want him, Harrell was being honest.
“I mean, it goes without saying – apparently not if I’m on the other side,” Harrell said. “So that’s what it is, really.”
Turns out there was more to Harrell’s signing than it first appeared, when basketball players buzzed at Harrell’s allegiance flip. The buzz of stealing a valuable player from some sort of rival wears off when you learn that there isn’t a lot of theft involved.
The Clippers enjoyed Harrell’s score, effort and emotion, but after failing in the playoffs, the need for floor space and defensive versatility were prioritized. The Clippers have reached a deal with Serge Ibaka to take Harrell’s place, signaling this change in values.
But in the hallway with the Lakers, Harrell is still in a privileged position to continue to write his “underdog” story on Los Angeles’ biggest basketball stage.
“When I played for the Clippers, I gave him everything I had every night by putting on my sneakers. And now that I’m here with the Los Angeles Lakers, that’s the same thing I’m going to do here, ”he said. “It’s my job, and I’m fortunate enough to be part of a team that was strong enough and deep enough and has enough talent to win the championship last year.
Since joining the Clippers as Chris Paul as part of rebuilding the squad, Harrell has embodied so much what the squad has been.
Montrezl Harrell controls the ball during a game between the Clippers and the Sacramento Kings in February.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)
His hair flew around as he made his way to the basket, strength and effort taking the place of grace. He was pounding his chest and flexing his muscles as the crowd screamed. He went on to become one of the NBA’s best reserves and helped the Clippers own some of the NBA’s most beloved depth.
But with free will after last season, questions have started about what Harrell is really worth for the organization. In January, Harrell called on his teammates for a lack of consistent effort and intensity after a home loss to Memphis. After losing his grandmother early in the recovery, Harrell struggled in the bubble.
The signing and trading partners did not appear, and as it was clear he would need a new home, Harrell considered his options. He quickly settled on the Lakers. He signed a two-year deal for their mid-level exception, worth $ 19 million.
“If you spend your career in any place long enough, you’ll want to keep playing there and keep growing there. So of course I still have great respect for these guys and for this organization, ”Harrell said of the Clippers. “But like I said, as far as [if] they wanted me to come back, obviously it doesn’t seem like that, does it?
The loss of the Clippers can be the gain of the Lakers. The things that worked so well with the Clippers could be appreciated by the Lakers even more.
Harrell’s off-bench offense should be more appreciated in the Staples Center room, while playing with defenders like Anthony Davis and Alex Caruso can help make up for some of his shortcomings that have pushed the Clippers to move on. And playing with LeBron James, the best player in the game and the most powerful leader, should help Harrell.
The skills he brings, coupled with his relentless energy and willingness to sacrifice his body and take responsibility, should endear him to his new teammates and Lakers fans.
“I just want to complement the Lakers,” Harrell said. “It’s not really a hard thing to do, man. You play with two top superstars in our league at LeBron and AD, and these guys, their track record speaks for itself, the names speak for themselves. When you have guys on the floor of this high caliber, I don’t feel like it will take a long time to get used to.
“I just want to do whatever it takes to win the game,” he added. “That’s all that really matters.”
And now it will matter to the Lakers.
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