Toronto Raptors: Who will play center for Raptors in 2020?
By Jason Mills
Montrezl Harrell 6’7″ power forward/center
The current sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell is also a Los Angeles Clippers free-agent like Marcus Morris. The Clippers, who blew a three-one game’s lead in the second round of the 2020 playoffs to Denver, may sport a significantly different lineup in 2020/21.
Montrezl Harrell has been getting noticed for the productive energy, rebounding, and scoring he provides on the court. Listed at six-foot-seven-inches and 240 pounds, Montrezl Harrell is another player who fits the small ball style and could play some center and power forward as well.
Harrell has toiled for five seasons in the NBA and keeps getting better. In 2020, he averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He even averaged 1.7 assists per game. Montrezl Harrell is not a stretch-big man, so his offensive work will occur around the basket. For his career, Harrell shoots 61.4 percent from the field.
Montrezl Harrell was initially drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2015 32nd overall, signed a two-year 12 million dollar deal in 2018, and is now a free agent. Even with the honor of being named the sixth man of the year in 2020, his salary would be manageable, and it could triple. A frontcourt of Serge Ibaka and Montrezl Harrell would be extremely active and athletic.
The Toronto Raptors had almost no drop off in talent between their starter and primary backup at most positions. The one exception was at the center position where Serge Ibaka, the backup player, definitively outplayed the starter. This situation needs to improve in 2020/21.