Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Montrezl Harrell
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Miles Bridges, CHA 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-8 Protected)
A lot of the Lakers potential moves this coming offseason ride on their playoff success and whether or not they can win back-to-back titles. If they cannot with the team they have, they may be more than willing to give up Montrezl Harrell, especially after all of the struggles their frontcourt has had this year, but if they do win a title, then the Lakers may not look to shake things up roster wise.
All-in-all, the Lakers did entertain the idea of trading Harrell at the NBA trade deadline this year, which could mean that even though they signed him to a two-year deal this past offseason, that they do not intend to keep him long-term. With them signing Andre Drummond after he was bought out by the Cavaliers, there are definitely a lot of questions about the Lakers’ frontcourt moving forward.
After winning the Sixth-Man of the Year award last season, Montrezl Harrell has not been as productive this year, averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and shooting 63.8% off-the-bench this season. With Charlotte needing a “bruiser” in the paint and a big man that they can rely on for production in their second-unit, Harrell could be a big-time addition for them.
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Cody Zeller is set to become a free agent this offseason, freeing up a ton of cap space for the Hornets, so whether they target Harrell or someone else in free agency, the Hornets have a lot of options on how to continue to add more talent to their team.
They are in a really good position as a franchise and while giving up Miles Bridges may not be ideal for them, as he is a key player for them in their second-unit, Montrezl Harrell can provide them with the “spark” in their frontcourt they so desperately need. With that said, let’s break down this trade from each team;s perspective and see if this trade really does make sense for both the Lakers and the Hornets.
