Heartbroken, Los Angeles Clippers fans have been reviewing the mistakes that led to their team crashing out of the NBA playoffs. One fan seemed convinced Montrezl Harrell failed to deliver to expectations and the big man, poised for a max deal next season, is not deserving of a new contract.
The social media post from the same Clippers supporter indicated Harrell's "heart is not where it used to be anymore. The fan said it's a mistake to re-sign the 26-year-old center, pointing out that the player was generally a disappointment.
Hardly a surprise, the man in question reacted to the fan's sentiments with several laughing emojis, and Clutch Points said the reply summed up Harrell's stand on the matter. The accusations that he blew his stint in the Orlando games are baseless. At best, they are laughable.
And the star has a point, before the bubble setup, he did prove that Doc Rivers can count on him. The big man registered more than 18 points per game and collected no less than seven rebounds each time he is on the floor. The numbers indicate he is a go-to guy for the Clippers head coach.
But the Disney World confinement appeared to have taken a toll on Harrell. He only managed to play under 20 minutes in the bubble games and Rivers was forced to limit his playing minutes, chiefly because he was missing the mark.
Even before the playoffs, it is believed that Harrell will return next season but the dismal run in Orlando plus talks of him feuding with other Clippers could lead to the team having a change of heart. Should that be the case, Clippers are only happy to see their club passing up on Harrell and looking for better options elsewhere.
It's unclear what Rivers' move will be on the big man but Sports Illustrated said the Clippers not re-signing Harrell is completely understandable. The showdown with the Denver Nuggets showed Harrell failed to check the player he was assigned to.
And equally, Harrell's offensive talent can be best described as limited. He can make a killing on the pick-and-roll but beyond that, the maneuverings will stop.
If Rivers will decide to move on from Harrell, the big man pool out there is brimming with options and SI nominated at least five candidates for the Clippers to check out.
One name that should catch the eyes of Rivers is Tristan Thompson, who the report said is likely to get out of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason. The 29-year-old is not a prolific scorer but the way he clears the board and creates scoring situations should be precious for the Clippers campaign.
A bonus for Rivers is the fact that Thompson boasts of extensive playoff experience, a factor that will make him more effective wearing the Clippers shirt next season.
