He may have surprised a lot of people last season, but in 2019-20, look for Montrezl Harrell to be one of the breakout stars of the year.
The 2018-19 campaign was nothing short of amazing for Montrezl Harrell. Once just a young piece added into the Chris Paul trade, Harrell quickly became an integral piece for the LA Clippers and one of the best contractual values in the entire league.
Signed for only $6 million a year for two years, Harrell entered the 2018 season with the goal of winning Most Improved Player in the league. No, he didn’t achieve that, but he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting, something none of us expected.
To Clippers’ fans, Harrell already is a star. The rest of the NBA world wasn’t paying attention though. Only when the team made the playoffs did people start to take notice. Harrell’s season averages of 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocks in the regular season were impressive in their own right, but he really upped his game in the postseason against the Warriors.
Harrell put up 18.3 points on 73% shooting while still grabbing 5.5 rebounds and dishing out 2.2 assists. Keep in mind, he played 26.3 minutes per game in the Clip’s lone playoff series, most of the time defended by one of the NBA’s best defenders in Draymond Green.
His play last season landed him a deal with And One and surely will have his own custom shoe at some point. While Harrell started to gain attention, the 2019-2020 season is where he should really shine. It’s no secret that the Clippers will become one of the most watched teams this season due to the acquisition of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. This just means more national exposure for Harrell, who I’m sure will capture the hearts of fans all over the league.
Harrell should rise to the occasion. He has been hard at work this summer (more on that later) and is the ultimate energy guy. He’ll still have his pick-and-roll buddy in Lou Williams too, so the duo should be just as, if not more, potent as last season.
So, let’s get into it and take a look at what to expect out of Trezz this season.
Defense
Montrezl Harrell isn’t known for his defense. Undersized for the center position at just 6’8″, Harrell makes up for it with his impressive 7’4″ wingspan and perpetual hustle.
His 1.7 blocks per game was good enough for 17th in the entire league last season. He’s not seen as a rim protector, but it may be something he has to become this season for the Clippers. Currently, only he and Ivica Zubac figure to have major minutes at the center position.
Zubac hasn’t shown any signs of being a full-time rim protector himself, so the two may have to form a serviceable combination. It should be an easier job this season with the combination of Leonard, George and Patrick Beverley‘s defense on the perimeter, so perhaps the two will work.
Harrell also is a master of taking a charge. He finished 19th in the league last season in charges drawn with 0.24 a game. It’s not a staggering number when you see it, but given it’s another tool in his toolbox to help protect the rim, it’s a great stat.
What it all comes down to on defense for Montrezl is his heart and hustle. He is constantly moving and motivated and will be in the right spot more often than not. His high energy will help the team get rebounds and out in transition quickly. No, he’s not going to be in any “best defender” in the league conversations, but he should be able to have a positive impact.
On offense though, Trezz looks to be a star.
Offense
Look out NBA. Montrezl Harrell is here.
I already covered his stats, but left out one important thing. Of his 1361 points scored during the regular season, only 9 of them were from deep. You read that correctly. Montrezl Harrell only made three three pointers during the 2018-19 season.
One of his many goals this summer? Extend his range.
I’m no mathematician, but if Montrezl is starts making three pointers, he will probably average more points. Having already put up a little over 16 points per game last season, he could easily approach 20 points a game. Granted, he may still end up around the same average, in part due to Kawhi and PG having more usage than Trezz’s teammates last season.
Still, if he can start knocking down deep balls, his whole game will open up. Trezz and Lou were already the top pick-and-roll duo last season, so adding in a pick-and-pop could be deadly.
Harrell also wanted to work on his footwork and his free throw shooting. Even as he was making a run at the Sixth Man of the Year, Trezz recognized the shortcomings in his games this season. He’s been playing at both Rico Hines and Drew League, constantly working on his craft.
From what we’ve seen, he looks much improved on offense. Team USA also recognized it, inviting him to join their team camp (which he declined.)
The improvement led myself to come out and say he could be Lou William’s main threat for Sixth Man of the Year this season. (I’m sorry Lou. I really didn’t intend to create any division!) Some friendly competition between both guys can only benefit the team. The Clippers offense is going to be flat out deadly.
Expected Role
All in all, we shouldn’t expect Trezz’s role to change much going into this season. He will most likely come off the bench with his partner in crime Lou Williams and will form the most deadly bench in the league. The two will have some help this season with the addition of Maurice Harkless. Depending on who Doc roles with in the starting lineup, Landry Shamet could also see a lot of minutes partnered up with Trezz and Lou.
I fully expect Trezz to be the center that takes the court at the end of the game. He will be part of one of the scariest finishing lineups in the league this season.
- PG – Patrick Beverley
- SG – Lou Williams
- SF – Paul George
- PF – Kawhi Leonard
- C – Montrezl Harrell
This group has a ton of both offense and defense and will really put some teams away.
We saw what a year of Harrell dominating can be like, but with more attention being given to the likes of Leonard and George, he can really show out against opponents.
While the thought of him flirting with stardom is enticing, just remember he is an unrestricted free agent this coming summer. Enjoy Montrezl while you can Clipper Nation as the future is always uncertain.