Doc Rivers is no longer the head coach, and Nick Nurse will instead be in charge of taking the Sixers to a deep postseason run. However, the roster could look different next season.

Harden’s future with the team looks uncertain, but Daryl Morey is expected to try and get new players to the City of Brotherly Love anyway. Besides, Montrezl Harrell may be playing elsewhere in the 2023-24.

Report: Montrezl Harrell declines player option with Sixers

According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Harrell is declining his his $2.7 million player option to become a free agent this offseason. The center has been backup to Embiid in Philly, where his playing time decreased significantly since the All-Star break.

Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the 29-year-old prefers to explore his options in the open market. Will Harden join him in free agency? Only time will tell.

Having averaged13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 71 games with the Charlotte Hornetsin the 2021-22 NBA season, the 2020Sixth Man of the Year was an interesing option in the free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics were among the teams who kept tabs on the big man, but Harrell ended up choosing the Sixers. In a recent interview with MassLive, he opened up on his decision.

Montrezl Harrell explains why he chose Sixers, takes shot at Celtics

“Honestly, it didn’t work out,” Harrell said. “We did have conversations but their mindset, where they wanted me to play or how they wanted me to play was not ideal. The situation I’m basically in or was going to be in, it wasn’t going to work out.

“If you are telling the player before the season even started they aren’t going to be playing games, that’s tough to say. That’s not going to work. I can’t do nothing with that. That’s how it went.”

Boston simply couldn’t guarantee Harrell the playing time he was looking for. The Sixers, however, have yet to do so as well — the 28-year-old only played 11 minutes in the season opener, curiously against the Celtics.

Some say defense wins championships; some argue that you need an explosive offense to win in today’s NBA. Whateverthe case, the truth is that no team can win without a serviceable second unit.

That’s why today, we’re going to talk about the top three candidates to win Sixth Man of the Year honors. Notably, all of them could actually be starters somewhere else, but rather contribute to an actual contender.

NBA Rumors: Montrezl Harrell And Sixth Man Of The Year Candidates

3. Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon is one of the smartest players in the league. He can play on and off the ball, guard multiple positions, and is an underrated playmaker. He’s the floor general the Boston Celtics needed off the bench.

Some argue that Brogdon should even start over Marcus Smart to allow Smart to wreak havoc in the second unit. However, Smart is a much better defender, and Brogdon’s injury history is a concern. The Celtics should be a title contender again, so look out for Brogdon.

2. Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell will have to re-consider his words on Joel Embiid, who he called soft last season. He’s now expected to back him up after signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

We already know what Harrell is capable of. He can dominate both ends of the glass, finish with both hands, and provide big energy off the bench. The only thing standing between him and 6MOY honors will be how many minutes a night he plays.

1. Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert was blossoming as a scorer before suffering a major injury, but he hasn’t let that stophim from getting better. However, he may never start for a stacked Cleveland Cavaliers team that just landed Donovan Mitchell.

Ironically, that might also help his case to be the next Sixth Man of the Year. He’s going to log heavy minutes off the bench for a legit title contender, and he’s capable of scoring in bunches when given enough touches.

The Lakers also extended LeBron James’ contract and hope to have Anthony Davis running and gunning by the first day of the season. Other than that, their salary cap limitations have kept them from making a big splash.

But they could still find serviceable veterans if they dig deep into the free agency market. Convincing them to take a pay cut could be tricky, which is why they should look to bring in familiar faces. Here, we talk about three former Lakers they should bring back.

NBA Rumors: 3 Former Lakers They Should Bring Back

3. Montrezl Harell

Montrezl Harrell didn’t leave the team on the best terms, but that seems to be a common trend with him. He’s an emotional person, but that fire could be what the Lakers need in the second unit. Also, there will be a new coach, which could also mean more minutes.

Harrell has Sixth Man of the Year potential. He’s a nightly double-double threat that can thrive on the offensive glass and provide some offense off the bench. They were outhustled in the paint last season, so the need is obvious.

2. DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins thrived during his brief days with the Lakers. He couldn’t play due to injurybut he established a great rapport with the team and the organization, so they might as well give him another chance right now.

They don’t need All-Star Boogie; they just need a serviceable backup big who can give them 15+ minutes a night. Cousins could serve in a similar capacity to Dwight Howard during their championship run in 2020.

1. Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder fumbled the bag in his first stint with the Lakers, but money doesn’t seem to be a priority of his right now. He even reached out to LeBron on social media to show his willingness to run it back in the purple and gold.

Kendrick Nunn’s health will be a concern, and even if they keep Westbrook or trade for Kyrie, they still need a scoring punch off the bench. Schroder is one of the best backup PGs in the league, and he seems willing to take less money for a shot at contention.

This list is based onthe future of player, what’s his background and the possibilty to move to another NBA Franchise. Although this list doesn’t include Miles Bridges, for example. This due to his obvious off-court problems, although he was a most-wanted free-agent during the last couple of weeks.

Also, the list doesn’t includeDwight Howard, Rajon Rondo andDeMarcus Cousin. This because it is most likely they will sign-and-trade or stay at their current franchises as there any better options available for both the player and their team on the market.

5 big names left in the NBA Free Agency

1. Collin Sexton

The Marrieta-born player is near a closing line with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although, he isn’t happy with the deal. this is the most likely move he will make on what’s left of the NBA Free Agency. Sexton averaged16points, 3rebounds and 2assists in 11 games in the 2021-22 NBA Season.

2.Montrezl Harrell

Harrell played for the Charlotte Hornets last season. And despite he had problems with the law lately, he is already playing at the Drew League. Therefore, he might be back to talks with many NBA franchises. The 2021 Sixth Man of the Year averaged13points, 6rebounds and 2 assists in 71 games in the 2021-22 NBA Season.

3.Dennis Schroder

The German player has been bouncing back and forth from NBA team to NBA team. Although, he had a good perfomance last season. He averagedaveraged 13points, 5assists and 3rebounds in 64 games in the 2021-22 NBA Season.

4.Blake Griffin

The Oklahoma-born player has been struggling with many factors lately. His injuries, his lack of minutes, his lack of intensity when he plays. In fact, he averaged6points, 4rebounds and 1assistin 56 games in the 2021-22 NBA Season. Not acceptable for a No.1 pick overall.

5. Carmelo Anthony

The New York City-bornplayer had a one-year-deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. In which he averaged13points, 4 rebounds and 1assistin 69 games in the 2021-22 NBA Season. It wasn’t bad but the overall team had a bad season. Theyare currently in seek of a trade for Kyrie Irving, but Anthony is not in question. It is still unclear if he is going to stay in Los Angeles.

Embiid knows how to get into his rivals’ heads. He lives rent-free in some of his rivals’ minds and nearly every big man in the game seems to have an agenda against him. Yet, few can actually do something to stop him.

That was at a full display again when the Sixers met the Washington Wizards, as Embiid tricked Montrezl Harrell into getting two quick technical fouls, getting him out of the game with a big smile on his face.

Montrezl Harrell Says Joel Embiid Is Soft

Harrell, who often likes to act tough and talks a big game, called him out after the game. The former Lakers big man said that he didn’t regret getting ejected for that little scuffle, even though he left his team undermanned instead of just… playing ball:

“He got an And-1. He wanted to yell at my face,” Harrell said.“I pushed him off. He backed up and went, ‘ohh, ohh I got pushed.’ Stand on your toughness, bro. If you’re so tough, stand on that my dude. Don’t start nitpicking and pointing and wanting to tell on me when the ref walked in. Stand on that. Cause as you see, I am. I got tossed. I wish it wouldn’t have been in the situation that it was in, but I don’t regret it.”

Embiid Says He’s Just A Troll

The Sixers star is a master at this craft. Professionals should be able to just ignore him and continue to play through it, as even he recognizes that he’s just trying to mess with their heads and they continue to bite the bait:

“I wouldn’t say I baited him into that (second tech) but I like to think that I’m a troll,” Embiid told the media. “I like to think I kind of made him get out of his comfort zone, and that got him kicked out.Basketball is also mental. You got to be able to get in your opposition’s heads, and that’s what I did.”

This is the NBA, not the UFC. No one’s trying to pick up a fight here, even if they want to act like they do. So, Harrell, next time if you want to make a statement; don’t let him put up 36 and 13 on you.

Sadly, they could never get back on track after their stars got hurt. The supporting cast came up short when it mattered the most, and it seems like multiple players weren’t comfortable with the position they were in.

After Andre Drummond called out the Lakers and coach Frank Vogel for not playing him enough and Dennis Schroder said that he wanted a bigger role, now Montrezl Harrell also took some jabs at the coach on Instagram.

Montrezl Harrell Isn’t Pleased With His Role With The Lakers

“Lmao it’s funny how all you MF think you know the game or what goes on lmaoo,” Harrell replied to a fan who claimed that he can’t guard centers and that the Lakers made a mistake by signing him and going small.

“Lmaoo y’all nigga keep things match up situation are excuses lmao that sh*t isn’t real,” Harrell also said when a fan said that Frank Vogel didn’t use him in some series because of more favorable matchups.

It’s clear that Harrell is unhappy with his diminished role last season. But to be fair, he was borderline unplayable at times in the playoffs. He couldn’t get a single stop, he doesn’t stretch the floor, and struggled to stay in front of bigger, stronger players.

Harrell’s offensive contributions are duly noted. He’s a grinder and a never-ending source of energy, so perhaps he could’ve had a longer leash. Then again, calling your coach out on social media isn’t the best way to get things done.

The former Sixth Man of the Year has until July 31 to opt-out of the second – and final – year of his contract with the Lakers. But even if he picks up his player option of $9.7 million, the team could look to move him.

This offseason, that move was Montrezl Harrell leaving the Los Angeles Clippers to join the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, it wasn’t shocking to see Harrell leave his current team, but joining their city rivals on a discount seemed like a bit of a statement.

Everyone around the league feels like Harrell could’ve gotten more money and/or more years elsewhere, so the fact that he specifically decided to join the Clippers’ biggest threat in the Western Conference was kind of shocking.

Montrezl Harrell Says The Lakers ‘Play Basketball’

Moreover, Harrell hasn’t hesitated to throw some shadeatthe former franchise, teammates, locker room, and coaching from every now and then. This time, he added that it’s nice to play for a team that ‘plays basketball’:

“It’s really just being able to just play my game and just not being kind of told, ‘You always got to be this, this or this. It’s kind of been the system I’ve kind of been playing in for a while. It’s got to be threes, layups, or let’s get free throws,” Harrell told The Orange County Register.

“But that’s not like that over here. They play to the style of everybody’s game and we’re not looking at anybody that, ‘You have to do this, you got to do that,’ man. We play basketball over here. It’s a free-flowing game,” he added.

The Clippers have been heavily criticized lately for the way they handled the egos, the practice schedule, and the lack of adjustments they made throughout the season. So perhaps, this is more of a shot at Doc Rivers than to the organization per sé.

Harrell Says That He Signed With The Lakers Because Of His Family

And, when asked about why he decided to sign a 2-year, $19 million deal with the Lakers rather than pursue a more lucrative contract elsewhere, he simply said that he made the right decision for his family:

“I have a family I have to provide for, so my decision was my decision. I talked with my family and people in my tight circle, and this is what we felt was best for me,” the reigning Sixth Man of the Year concluded.

At the end of the day, we’ll never know for a fact what happened between the Clippers, Klutch Sports, and Montrezl Harrell. What we can be sure about is that the Lakers are thrilled about getting such a productive player at that price rate.

It was just a matter of time before some Lakers or Clippers fan found something on Montrezl Harrell, as his signing with the purple and goldwas arguably the biggest surprise of free agency thus far.

Harrell was supposed to sign a long-term and lucrative deal on another team or come back to the Clippers to try and dethrone the Lakers. Instead, he settled for just $19 million and 2 years despite being the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, joining his city rivals.

Lakers Fan Exposes Montrezl Harrell

That’s why a patient fan made the most of the opportunity to call Montrezl Harrell out, leaking some DMs they exchanged in 2018 when Montrezl was starring for the Clippers and the Lakers were still trying to get back to the top.

Harrell pretty much said that he would never join the Lakers, that their fans were lame, and that they wouldn’t win a ring in a very long time because they hadn’t even made the playoffs in a while.

The fan even told him to reach out to him in a couple of years when the Lakers had 17 NBA Championships if he was still ringless. Needless to say, it seems like he had the last laugh in this hilarious exchange.

Harrell has lost a lot of credibility around NBA fans for leaving the Clippers to take a massive discount andjoin the reigning champions. However, Lakers fans will definitely welcome him and his grittiness with open arms. Also, he owes that fan an apology, that’s for sure.

At first glance, this year’s free-agent class isn’t exactly the richest in terms of talent or top-tier playersbut it has countless role players that could make a huge difference on contending teams.

That’s why today, we’ve put together a list featuring the top 7 free agents that could make an impact on teams trying to make it to the NBA Finals. Notably, we won’t include Anthony Davis because he’s a lock to resign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

9. Dwight Howard

2019/20 Stats: 7.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 0.7 APG

Even if he’s no longer the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate he once was, Dwight Howard proved that he can still be a huge contributor toa championship team. He was in the best shape of his career and provided a lot of energy on both ends of the glass.

Howard is still an elite rim runner and rim protector and he already said that he won’t take a veteran minimum deal again after winning his first ring. If he stays locked in, he could be a major addition for a contending team on a one-year deal.

8. Fred VanVleet

2019/20 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.6 APG

Fred VanVleet was honest about his plans for free agency. He said that he’s already an NBA Champion and now just wants to cash in after enduring a tough journey on his way to the league. It’s fair, and he’s earned it.

‘Steady Freddy’ broke out as a scorer and playmaker this season after already proving that he could be a lockdown defender in the backcourt as well. He’s likely going to be overpaid, though, as he’s better off as a role player and there are still some doubts about his ability to be ‘the man’.

7. Serge Ibaka

2019/20 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG

Serge Ibaka continues to be a reliable source of energy on both ends of the floor. He’s no longer the top-notch rim protector he was during his days at OKC, but he can still play solid defense in the post and the perimeter.

Ibaka has also added the three-point shot to his repertoire which is a must nowadays for big men, and he’s rumored to be on the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers‘ radar if the Toronto Raptors don’t bring him back.

6. Montrezl Harrell

2019/20 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has earned his money, that’s for sure. However, it’s unlikely that the Los Angeles Clippers will be willing to commit a lot of cash for Montrezl Harrell after their meltdown last year.

The Clippers are reportedly going to look for a third star in the offseason and keeping Harrell will be tricky. He’s a never-ending source of energy and an outstanding offensive rebounder, but whether he’s good enough to start and sign a big contract is yet to be seen.

5. Jerami Grant

2019/20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG

The Denver Nuggets would be making a huge mistake if they let Jerami Grant walk away, although they may have no choice if other teams showup with a big bag of cash, which is likely to be the case.

Grant has improved as a scorer from all three levels and his versatility as a defender could come pretty handily for teams lacking size. He can guard one through five and could even play as an undersized center from time to time.

4. Tristan Thompson

2019/20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

LeBron James made sure that Tristan Thompson got his money in his last contract. Now, he knows that he’s going to have to take a massive discount if he wants to go back to contending for a ring.

Thompson is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and has made great strides as a defender as well, although his offense is still limited, to say the least. His skill set could be perfect for teams needing an interior presence and second-chance opportunities.

3. Joe Harris

2019/20 Stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 APG

People continue to sleep on Joe Harris despite the fact that he’s been one of the most efficient volume shooters in the league for the past couple of years. Now, there aren’t going to be many touches for him in the Brooklyn Nets.

Harris is the best sharpshooter in this year’s free agency class and he already got paid a nice bag, so perhaps he’ll now pursue his first ring. There’s no doubt that there will be plenty of teams waiting in line to acquire his JJ Redick-ish services.

2. Danilo Gallinari

2019/20 Stats: 18.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG

I guess that we can all agree that if it wasn’t for injuries, then Danilo Gallinari would be a multiple-time All-Star and one of the best scorers in the league. That’s why he keeps getting paid despite being so injury-prone.

The Italian forward has a rare combination of size, speed, and shooting skills that many contending teams could find helpful. He’s likely looking to cash in the lastlucrative deal of his career.

1. Carmelo Anthony

2019/20 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG

And last but not least, we find Carmelo Anthony. Everybody should be waiting in line outside his house to apologize to him after dubbing him a toxic player and pointing him out as the scapegoat over and over.

Melo proved againthat he’s one of the greatest scorers of all time by hitting huge clutch shots for the Blazers last year. He embraced his lesser role and showed that he still has a lot left in the tank, and any contending team could use his timely and efficient scoring touch.