In free agency’s first stunner, last season’s Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal to leave the Clippers for the Lakers.
Harrell, 26, was a key piece of the Clippers’ bench, averaging a career-best 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game, and opted to change course, taking the full midlevel exception from the Lakers with a player option for 2021-22. It’s a spicy twist that adds juice to what should be an even more fascinating in-market rivalry. Let’s grade the deal.
Grade: A
If it wasn’t clear already from the types of contracts being handed out, a serious bear market has emerged in the early hours of free agency.