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The Los Angeles Lakers snag Montrezl Harrell from the Clippers

By Zane Harris

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts during the fourth quarter in a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on February 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings won 112-103. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts during the fourth quarter in a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on February 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings won 112-103. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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The 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

It appears that LeBron James and Rich Paul have had their hand in another move that has left the Los Angeles Lakers as the beneficiaries. In recent news reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers will be acquiring former Los Angeles Clippers center Montrezl Harrell. It is said the Harrell will be signing a two-year 19 million dollar deal.

The Lakers signed Harrell using the team’s non-taxpayers mid-level exception.

This comes just days after it was announced that the Lakers would be trading Danny Green and the 28th overall pick for Dennis Schröder. It is clear that Rob Pelinka and the rest of the Lakers front office are not content with the current state that the roster is in and are making amazing moves to put together what looks to be the team to beat in the 2020-2021 NBA season.

There are multiple levels as to why this is such a good move for the Lakers. First, it makes losing Dwight Howard in free agency much easier to live with. Despite reports saying that Howard would be resigning with the Lakers, shortly after, it was said he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

Although Dwight was an integral piece of the Lakers last season after the team took a chance on him with a non-guaranteed contract. Howard proved that he was worth much more than the contract he signed throughout the year and in the playoffs.

However, with the signing of Harrell, it seems that the role that Howard played has quickly been filled. Montrezl Harrell even has the potential to play this role better. He is an interior force on defense and one of the best inside defenders in the league. Although undersized for his position, he has proven himself to be a very skilled and shifty rebounder.

The second reason as to why this was such a great move for the Lakers is that it makes the Clippers a weaker team. Harrell is coming off of a season that he won the 6th man of the year award. He was one of the most important players in the entire Clippers rotation. Losing him will cut back the talent and production of their bench by a substantial amount.

Along with this, they are losing a lot of interior defense in their second unit. One of the staples of the Clippers last season was their great defense paired with their ferocious energy that was unmatched by almost any other team in the league and Harrell was a big contributor to that.

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It will be very exciting to see Montrezl Harrell suit up for the purple and gold in this coming season and watch him contribute to what was already an elite defense in the Los Angeles Lakers.

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