The Los Angeles Clippers initially wanted to make a sign-and-trade deal for Montrezl Harrell, according to an NBA scout.
The Clippers were not willing to make a lucrative offer to Harrell and they eventually saw the reigning Sixth Man of the Year sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“(The Clippers) had let it be known (with other teams) that they did not want to sign (Harrell) to a $70 million or $80 million deal, and they were more than happy to do a sign-and-trade if someone was interested (in free agency).
They had put that out. That was out there. And the Lakers swooped in and said, ‘You know what? We’ll save you the trouble.’ For him to take that (two-year, $18.9 million; player option in the second season) contract, to me, you talk about not only your gain but taking him away from your biggest competitor.
I mean, that was huge, in my opinion,” an anonymous NBA scout told Sam Amick of The Athletic, via Lakers Daily.
Harrell eventually joined the Lakers on a two-year, $19M deal.
