Bulls Potential FA Target Montrezl Harrell Called ‘Toxic’

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Billy Donovan

Don’t expect the Chicago Bulls or any other team to sign Montrezl Harrell anytime soon. The talented but troubled former NBA Sixth Player of the Year is facing a number of legal issues stemming from a drug charge after being embroiled with 30 pounds of marijuana.

Recently, an Eastern Conference executive weighed in on the possibility that Harrell would land in Chicago, where the Bulls could use his toughness. It doesn’t sound promising because the word “toxic” stems from the drug allegation and how he left his relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers after he was traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021.

Montrezl Harrell’s luggage can make teammates leave

Speaking exclusively to Heavy, the executive said this about Harrell’s situation.

“The feeling now is that he is toxic until his case is resolved. He made the case that he really did nothing wrong and only had a minor violation [in relation to the drug arrest], this is most likely true. No one really cares about the weeds; the league doesn’t go down because of that as long as it’s just a possession. His case has been pushed back, so we’ll have to wait and see. And you know what he can do on the floor, he can give you that punch right in the middle of the bench. With everything in place, someone will work with him to a minimum when things settle down, and that’s a really good thing. But there’s no one going to take his place while all that’s going on there.”

Is he a good fit for the Bulls, and are they one of the teams that could take him if his legal situation is resolved?

“Chicago needed a rim guard, they needed a little bit of toughness, and they generally shy away from people getting into little trouble out of court,” the executive said. “So that was three attacks against him. With Drummond there, it’s hard to see them pushing him. “

Harrell won his sixth Man of the Year award in 2019-20 while with the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during his career. However, in his best season with the Clips, Harrell generated 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.

At 6’7″, Harrell was not a player who saved many shots, as evidenced by 0.8 blocks per game in his six-year career. Being on both ends of the floor is something the Bulls and other NBA teams could covet.

Just not at the expense of a potential public relations or existing problem while Harrell gets through the legal system. Also, Harrell hasn’t left the Lakers in the best of terms, so there are concerns about how he could affect a team’s chemistry.

Is Justin Lewis Patrick Williams’s backup plan?

Chicago also needed someone capable of playing as a striker on the bench.

The Bulls can rely on freestyle rookie Justin Lewis to back Patrick Williams. Lewis has shown some serious bright spots in the summer league, and there’s every indication that he has a realistic chance of making it into the Bulls’ starting XI at some point this season.

Lewis looks like a player who will provide the defensive and positional versatility that Chicago is looking to have next season.

He has been signed as a two-way player, and the Bulls may choose to keep him in that role for as long as possible to allow him to develop. However, if he shows he can compete at the NBA level and help the team win regular-season games and, hopefully, in the knockout stages, Lewis could find himself a winner. part of the rotation.

Over the summer, Lewis averaged 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 22.5 minutes of play in five games.