The Clippers will try to re-sign Montrezl Harrell and Marcus Morris, who are both headed toward free agency this summer, sources tell Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Harrell, 26, is in his third season in L.A. and has become one of the league’s best backup big men. A report from The Athletic earlier this season estimated he would receive offers between $20MM and $25MM annually, but Buha believes that number has declined because of Harrell’s deficiencies as a rebounder and rim protector, along with a market in which only seven teams will have cap room available.
Morris, 30, was acquired from the Knicks at the deadline to add frontline depth and a veteran presence. The Clippers will have his Non-Bird rights and can offer him up to $18MM, a 20% increase over his current $15MM salary.
Buha notes that the playoffs will factor into the decisions on both players, but L.A. appears to be in good position to keep them. The Clippers were able to stay under the tax line this season, which will delay the implementation of a repeater tax as the franchise heads into what should be a string of taxpayer years. Buha also points out that a weak free agent market limits the options for replacing Harrell and Morris if they leave.
Which seven teams will have cap room available?
The Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks are the only teams expected to have enough cap space to offer a max contract, which could cause some players to rethink whether to decline their 2020-21 player options.
Atlanta: 49.21M
Charlotte: 22.81M
Detroit: 34.86M
Miami: 26.50M
New York: 38.76M
Buha’s list is the Hawks, Knicks, Pistons, Heat, Hornets, Suns, and Trail Blazers. I could see Portland staying over the cap though.
Most teams have a 9.8 or 4.6 exemption though. After bumping into each other during the playoffs maybe that is the most that either can fetch.
The raptors dont ?
Raptors theoretically could if they got rid of their free agents. But if they aim to keep VanVleet and even just one of their big men (Gasol or Ibaka), the cap holds (and eventual salaries) would push them over.
Could see Harrell leaving apparently he’s annoyed with Kawhi constantly sitting out games and claiming all the fame for that team.
I can see why someone would be happy to have Kawhi but I can see why he’s annoyed at the same time.
Harrell would be cool with Miami, him and Bam would be good defensively and Harrell would help him with rebounding. Plus offensively Bam operates more at the top of the key allowing Harrell to play down low
The article clearly points out harrell’s deficiencies as a rebounder…as do his career numbers and advanced stats.
Harrell butler and Bam would easily get about 25 rebounds between them
You can’t say that Harrell will improve rebounding when he is in fact not good at rebounding
My orb!!!
So shelling out over 100 million a year for Kawhi, George,Harrell and Morris is somehow supposed to be a good idea?
The NBA’s salary cap pretty much mandates that they bring back their own players at whatever market is (or make the market to do so). The alternative would likely be replacing them with inferior players, which would be a bad idea in year 2 of KL and PG13 (and both able to walk after that season). They can play around with a S&T with Harrell if he wants to leave for more $$, but that’s never simple.
If they can’t keep Marcus Morris, the Clippers are preparing to move on to ZACK MORRIS !!