Sixers center Montrezl Harrell underwent an MRI on Wednesday to evaluate swelling in his right knee following offseason workouts, and the results weren’t good. According to the team, Harrell has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and a medial meniscus tear (Twitter link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).
It’s a brutal blow for both Harrell and the Sixers, who re-signed the big man to a guaranteed one-year, minimum-salary contract last month after he turned down a player option to reach free agency.
Harrell, 29, didn’t see significant playing time in Philadelphia’s rotation last season, averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 11.9 minutes per game across 57 appearances.
However, the 76ers will have a new head coach in 2023/24, with Nick Nurse replacing Doc Rivers, so Harrell wasn’t necessarily in line for the same limited role going forward. In his previous five seasons, he had put up 14.5 PPG and 5.9 RPG in 361 games (23.3 MPG), earning Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2020.
The Sixers’ announcement today didn’t include any sort of recovery timeline for Harrell, but a torn ACL typically requires upwards of a year – if not more – to come back from. We’ll have to wait more clarity on the veteran’s prognosis and the team’s plans for him, but if the injury is deemed season-ending and Philadelphia is comfortable eating the salary and accompanying luxury tax hit, Harrell could be waived to open up a roster spot for another player.
The 76ers should still have a good amount of depth up front with or without Harrell. Mohamed Bamba, Paul Reed, and Filip Petrusev are expected to compete for frontcourt minutes behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
Yeah, that’s 12-15 months. Phily will get an injury exemption here.
A DPE is pretty useless for a minimum salary player, since every team gets an unlimited amount of minimum salary exceptions. To get the roster spot back, they’d have to buy him out and waive him.
76ers are likely to be 5-8 seed
3 players walk for nothing in summer.
the 76ers lost three role players — Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels, and Shake Milton — who were in the rotation at some point during the 2022-23 season
Eeesh. Not a fan of Harrell at all, but I feel sorry for him now. Hard luck.
Who should Philly sign instead?
When Embiid is out of the lineup, Philly will now have a Paul Reed/Mo Bamba duo manning the five spot??? Paul Reed will be fine …. Mo Bamba is a pretty big bust. Not giving you much of anything.
I meant more that they should probably pursue an upgrade elsewhere.
Bamba will give you solid rebounding and he’s a legitimate 3 point threat.
And he’s not a bad defender either. No idea where “he’s a bust” keeps coming from.
Bamba is an absolute bust!!! #5 overall pick. Couldn’t get on the floor for the Lakers. He is playing on minimum salary deals. Bust!
He was the 6th overall pick not the 5th. No he hasn’t lived up to 6th pick billing but he’s not even 25 yet.
He injured his ankle after coming over from Orlando and never had a chance to get going, by the time he was fully cleared the Lakers were in a playoff run and didn’t have the luxury of giving him playing time to get the rust off.
* correction- he barely turned 25 a few months ago.
Thank you for adding some perspective to the matter…
He might be a “bust” in terms of being the 6th overall pick, but he came out of the draft as a raw player.
It is injuries that has mostly slowed him down from making any progress. I think if he’s healthy, Bamba can be a very solid role player for any contending team.
Mo Bamba will be out of the league next year.
25 is now old in the NBA if you cannot prove that you are at least a rotation player. Most of the players who get drafted are out of the league by the time they hit 25. You got guys in the league who are 6 year NBA veterans. 25 is now an NBA vet. Not a “developing” player.
Then why isn’t he on a veteran minimum deal with the Lakers?? Orlando spent a #6 overall pick for him, and dumped him. They can’t get free agents. They have to develop from within. They gave up.
The Lakers decided to give a vet minimum to Jaxson Hayes rather than offer that spot to Bamba. How is that not a bust???
How is a #6 overall pick, playing on a vet minimum, as the #3 center (not in rotation), NOT a bust????
Jason Hayes is just as big of a bust, he was just a lower lottery pick.
I agree. Jaxson Hayes was a project that didn’t work. #9 overall pick. Bust!
I bet Barry has a big bust.
I dont. Especially after he decided to be a d!ck to Giannis for no reason because Giannis was……shooting free throws.
I find it extremely hard to feel sorry for a dude who had a tantrum cause of free throws after a game.
“Yeah I took the ball, get the f— outta here,” Harrell said
Harrell threatened him (Giannis Brother). “I’ll beat your ass,” Harrell reportedly said before adding “you better send that s— back to the locker room.”
Might be a career ender
Time for a Tobie Bobie reunion!!
True that fellas. Let’s burn one.
Harrell’s career looked so promising when he played for Clippers. Do not know why he wasnt able to sign long term contract with Clippers just to sign 2 yr contract with Lakers. Since then, he has played for multiple teams, got arrested, and was on espn for petty fight with Giannis after game. He’s only 29, but his career is near the end. :(
Drugs
Drugs? You don’t even know what you’re saying lol
Well I guess PJ is not getting traded ……
Reed. Just Reed. Has proven he can do more and has his own style
Dwight Howard waiting by the phone in China.
I hate this guy. Was so happy when he rejected his player option but we just had to bring him back. Now we pay him to do nothing again like last year. Not his fault he got injured but now hes literally useless.
They already had a logjam at the 5. Sad for Harrell, but I’m not sure it really hurts the Sixers all that much. Their playing style doesn’t suit him and actually emphasizes his biggest weakness (decision making), which is weird cos doc used him so well at the clippers.
Karma is a b and always gets hers.
Remember when this dude decided to be a douchecanoe after the game against the bucks trying to stop Giannis from shooting free throws?
link to cbssports.com
Ppl like you make me sick, this is how he feeds his family yet you got emotional over something that had nothing to do with you smh. It was montrez home court and he wanted to get some work in because he didn’t even play, yet giannis(who dide play) was shooting when there was only 1 hoop.
You’re right Lucky. Looks like its generations of ebt and government cheese for the Harrell’s
Yeah stick up for the a-hole that threatened to beat up people. Good look dude. Move along
Waive him. He gets paid. This works out for Filip and Bumba. To many centers anyway. Reed should play PF.
Salary filler now
Makes sense to keep his salary on the books until Harden situation is resolved for salary-matching/salary-dumping?
Cost of luxury tax would be quite high.
Also a standalone salary dump or swap could make sense. Maybe it could even be done with only cash?
Harrell, Pat Bev, Lemon Pepper Lou, Gallo, Bobi & Tobi, SGA…. that clippers team was so fun to watch. Tough break for Trez. Probably finished.