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Lakers: 3 reasons to keep Montrezl Harrell at the trade deadline

By Cameron Salce

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 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. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 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. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
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2. Montrezl Harrell brings the intensity and energy for the Los Angeles Lakers every night

Without AD and LeBron, the Lakers are going to have to get their energy from different players on a nightly basis, but one guy the Lakers can consistently count on to bring his utmost energy and effort is Harrell. He has one of the highest motors in the entire NBA and that can help the Lakers on nights they are struggling to get through without the added boost of packed Staples Center crowd.

The best teams have a guy on it that can bring that next level of intensity to the floor, and is the enforcer that will not back down to anyone. One of the best Lakers role players of all-time Ron Artest A.K.A. Metta World Peace, comes to mind as a player like that in the past that helped the Lakers win a repeat championship. Harrell is definitely that guy for the Lakers and if he was suddenly in another uniform that would be a brutal blow to the team’s overall attitude.

MORE: Why trading KCP is the right move for the Los Angeles Lakers

It would feel similar to when Harrell took his talents across the hall from the Clippers to the Lakers this offseason. Harrell’s game coupled with Patrick Beverly’s similar style brought a certain grit and blue-collar work ethic that the Clippers built their team around the last couple of seasons.

When the Lakers made the move to sign Harrell this offseason it felt like it was an addition also by subtracting a major contributor from arguably their rival, the Clippers. His knowledge of their system and the comfortability of playing against some of the guys on that roster would help down the road if they met in a playoff series with one another.

He did not get the nickname Mosterez for nothing. He is able to use his football background from his youth (was recruited by South Carolina in high school) to bully people inside despite being undersized for a power forward.

Harrell’s impact with his intensity and heart is hard to quantify, but it is comparable to what Draymond Green brought to the Warriors during their title runs with his ability to affect the game sometimes with his attitude and aggressiveness. The only other person that has that sort of fight in them would be Markieff Morris, but the Lakers might feel like an entirely different team without Harrell on the roster.

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