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Letting Montrezl Harrell walk was the right move for the LA Clippers

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The LA Clippers made the right move in letting Montrezl Harrell walk.

It happened. As we geared up for free agency, fans of the LA Clippers speculated that Montrezl Harrell was the most likely of the team’s free agents to depart. On Friday night, he did just that as he moved across the hall and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for two years and $19 million dollars.

Great!

I am dead serious. Letting Trezz go was absolutely the right decision and him joining the Lakers might just be the icing on the cake.

The Sixth Man of the Year had a career season with the Clips and looked to be en route to a payday. However, his performance in the playoffs all but halted those dreams. Let’s remember that the team was a -68 with Harrell on the floor in the postseason and a +123 with him off the court.

Part of that can obviously be attributed to Doc Rivers continuously playing him despite it obviously not working but that’s just it. It didn’t work. The whole league saw the formula to stopping Trezz – put a bigger player against him. Maybe that gets covered up some with the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis sharing the court but even help defense can’t help Trezz’s lack of size.

There’s also the issue of chemistry. After the 3-1 lead was blown against the Denver Nuggets, information started to leak out that players in the lockeroom were arguing with Paul George and Montrezl Harrell being the main two. The way that Chris Haynes article was worded seemed like Klutch was already working their angle and that Trezz was the source of the leaks to the media.

For the Clippers and the culture they are trying to build, that’s a no go.

Trezz was a good regular season player. There’s no denying that. In the postseason where it matters though, he has not proven himself. Addition by subtraction is a thing. It appears to be the case here. The Clippers losing him is not the end of the world, especially depending on how they finish out free agency.

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