The Philadelphia 76ers cut down their depth at the center position on Monday. According to a league source, the Sixers are waiving the veteran center, Montrezl Harrell.
Last summer, Harrell joined the 76ers as a late offseason addition ahead of the team’s training camp. He was expected to compete for minutes behind Joel Embiid. Considering his success playing under Doc Rivers during his stint with the Los Angeles Clippers, Harrell had high expectations in Philadelphia.
At first, Harrell established himself as Embiid’s go-to backup. However, the former second-round pick Paul Reed picked up playing time throughout the season as well. Harrell and Reed would go back and forth until the playoffs rolled around. That’s when Rivers opted to roll with Reed throughout the postseason run.
With a player option attached to his original contract with the Sixers, Harrell declined it before free agency opened up. While it seemed he was headed towards a change of scenery, Harrell inked a one-year deal with the 76ers over the offseason.
Unfortunately, Harrell’s offseason didn’t go as planned. During summer workouts, Harrell suffered a knee injury. After getting diagnosed with an ACL and meniscus injury, the Sixers ruled out Harrell indefinitely. While it was previously reported the Sixers planned to keep Harrell on the roster, that didn’t turn out to be the case.
Typically, ACL injuries could keep a player off the floor for an entire season. In Harrell’s case, he will attempt to fast-track his comeback and is eyeing a return after the All-Star break, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
In the meantime, the Sixers will continue to support Harrell through his rehab, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. If all goes as planned for the 29-year-old center, he could be back on the court in due time this upcoming season.
The question now becomes when will Harrell return, and which team will he compete with? If he signs a deal elsewhere, Harrell would switch teams for the seventh time in his career.
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