Los Angeles Clippers: Montrezl Harrell is ready to break out in 2018-19

PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers poses for photos during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 24, 2018 in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers poses for photos during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 24, 2018 in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 07: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 07: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)

Season Prediction

What do we expect out of Montrezl Harrell in his fourth season in the NBA and second with the Los Angeles Clippers? A whole lot.

As mentioned, Harrell will likely be the backup center for the club, but he should get more than the 17.0  minutes per game he did last season. Last year he was backing up DeAndre Jordan. Now, he will be behind Marcin Gortat who at 34-years-old won’t be getting as big of a workload.

Harrell should see a slight increase in scoring, hitting around 13 points per game. Through two preseason games, albeit a small sample size, this is right where he is, averaging 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.

While this won’t put him in any sort of Most Improved Player conversation, it will show marked improvement which is all Doc Rivers and company can hope for. If he can prove that he can be productive while playing more minutes, it could lead to an eventual starting position. Gortat may be an iron man

As a key part of the Clippers’ young core, Harrell just needs to show he can contribute to a winning culture and progress each season. Expect big things from the big man along with some pretty amazing shoes.