The rich get richer as the Lakers lure Montrezl Harrell away from Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers got even better by signing Montrezl Harrell, much to the dismay of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are showing why the Los Angeles Clippers will always be their little brother.

In the defending champions’ latest push to bolster their roster, they signed former Clippers’ forward Montrezl Harrell, agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Harrell, 26, joins a Lakers squad that recently acquired guards Wesley Matthews and Dennis Schröder. Not known for his defense, Harrell will provide offensive help to the bench or starting lineup depending on which route Frank Vogel and his coaching staff choose to go.

His departure doesn’t close the Clippers’ championship window, but it’s certainly starting to feel that way. The absence of a playmaking guard coupled with the uncertainty of Paul George as a viable co-star to Kawhi Leonard leaves the Clippers in a precarious position.

The Lakers’ moves put them firmly in the driver’s seat in the Western Conference, and perhaps the entire NBA.

In 2015, Harrell made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets. He recently came on the last two seasons, winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2019-2020 season. Last year he averaged 18.6 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Lakers’ biggest rival: the Clippers.

LeBron James’s agent, Rich Paul, represents Harrell, so luring him to come across the Staples Center hall probably wasn’t as difficult as it seems.

The Charlotte Hornets reportedly offered the 2015 second-round draft pick more money; however, he turned it down. Harrell, who spent the last three seasons with the Clippers, sees the widespread change happening with the organization.

I can see why he chose to sign with the Lakers. They have the better superstars, the better tradition, and the better chance to win titles moving forward.

You don’t win championships in the offseason. If anybody knows that, it’s Jeanie Buss, owner of the Lakers, and Rob Pelinka, the team’s general manager.

For all the talk since the arrival of Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer in town, the Lakers, fresh off winning their 17th NBA championship, are still the standard; the Clippers are trying to establish one. Therein lies the most significant difference between the two teams.