Montrezl Harrell is a seven-year NBA veteran with career averages of 12.9 PPG and 5.3 REB. Alongside Bill Walton, Harrell is one of only two centers in NBA history to have ever been named the “NBA Sixth Man of the Year.” Yet, only two years after receiving such a prestigious honor, Harrell’s NBA career was in limbo, stemming from his May 12th, 2022, felony drug charge.
Following a routine pullover, police found three pounds of marijuana in the backseat of Harrell’s vehicle. For first-time offenders in Kentucky, possessing eight ounces to five pounds of marijuana is considered a Class-D felony. Class-D Felonies can result in a one-to-five-year prison sentence or a fine totaling up to $10,000. Pending these charges, Harrell remained unsigned, and doubt began to creep in on whether we had all witnessed him play his last NBA game.
Then, on August 31st, Harrell’s career trajectory changed. Madison County District Court held that his Class-D Felony would be reduced to misdemeanor possession. Additionally, these charges can be expunged from his record in 12 months, providing he remains in good legal standing.
Fast forward a week, and on September 6th, a little over two years after being named the 2019-2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell finally received a two-year, $5.2 million deal from the Philadelphia 76ers. Harrell, having played for Head Coach Doc Rivers and Assistant Sam Cassell on the LA Clippers, knows the ins and outs of their system. In fact, it is under Rivers that Harrell won the aforementioned award. Additionally, the 76ers have long sought a reliable backup center for perennial MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who, while possessing game-changing skills, has had durability concerns throughout his career. Harrell is a solid reinforcement and will be a player to watch this season. It seems that Montrezl Harrell has finally received some “brotherly” love.
About the Author: Brandon Blumer is a 2L law student at New York Law School. You can connect with him via https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonblumer or via Twitter @BlumerBrandon
