Montrezl Harrell was sent to the Washington Wizards in the trade that brought Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers.
So far, the deal is paying major dividends for Harrell.
Through nine games the former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds per game. He is also playing in eight more minutes per outing than he did while in LA.
That last stat has been a source of contention. Harrell has consistently felt like the Lakers underplayed him.
As a result, he lashed out at the purple and gold over it this week. His comment largely speaks for itself:
Montrezl Harrell on why he’s playing better this year than he did last season: “Montrezl Harrell is on the floor, brother. That’s the biggest difference.”
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) November 6, 2021
This is not the first time Harrell has expressed displeasure with his one-year Laker stint. He has done it time after time after time.
The relationship between Harrell and the Lakers is so bad, in fact, that Anthony Davis refused to invite him to his wedding.
Now that’s a Halloween costume. https://t.co/xDN5ukIuKB
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 30, 2021
While Harrell’s constant moaning is a bit unseemly, it’s a bit difficult to argue with the merits of what he’s saying. The Wizards, a team that nobody had any expectations for this year, are 6-3.
The Lakers? 5-5. And seemingly getting worse by the day.
At the moment, Harrell looks like the winner of his divorce with Los Angeles. Will that continue to be the case as the year progresses? Time will tell.
Related: Russell Westbrook’s Surprising Response To Awful Lakers Showing (Video)
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
