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The Philadelphia 76ers continue to shore up their frontcourt. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Sixers are bringing back Montrezl Harrell on a one-year deal.
“Free agent F Montrezl Harrell has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote via his personal Twitter.
Harrell had signed a two-year deal with the Sixers during the 2022 offseason but opted out of his deal, making him an unrestricted free agent. Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice gave the full details of Harrell’s contract.
“Montrezl Harrell’s new deal with the Sixers for this season is for the vet minimum and is fully guaranteed, per source,” Neubeck wrote via his personal Twitter.
HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan explained why Harrell and the Sixers went this route instead of simply opting in.
“Montrezl Harrell’s player option amount he declined was $2.76M. His veteran minimum this year is $2.89M thanks to the cap rising,” Gozlan wrote via his personal Twitter. “The Sixers would’ve had a $2.76M cap hit in their books had he opted in. Instead, his new salary this year will only count as $2.02M.”
Harrell originally started as Joel Embiid’s primary backup center but eventually lost that role to Paul Reed mid-season. By bringing him back, the Sixers are giving Harrell another shot at being Embiid’s backup with Nick Nurse as the head coach instead of Doc Rivers, though he will have some competition with Mo Bamba, who signed with the team on July 5.
However, re-signing Harrell and adding Bamba brings Paul Reed’s return into question.
Doc Rivers Convinced Patrick Beverley to Join Sixers
After signing with the Sixers, Patrick Beverley explained on his podcast, “The Pat Bev Podcast With Rone,” how former Sixers coach Doc Rivers factored into his decision. Beverley explained what role Rivers had in his life.
“Before I like to make any, like, life decision, I hit Doc. Obviously, you know, Doc is a mentor, Doc is damn near a father figure, Doc is—feel me? Doc is everything. I need something. I need answers. I need help. I hit Doc.”
Beverley then detailed how Rivers factored into his decision to sign with Sixers.
“I hit Doc. ‘I might go to Philly. Obviously, you was there. How’d you like the situation?’ Now this is a Hall of Fame coach that just got fired, and his response, exact words, ‘I love Philadelphia for you. They need you. You will be great with Joel (Embiid). James (Harden), he respects you. You will be great with him. If I had you last season, we would have been a different team.’”
Rivers coached Beverley on the Los Angeles Clippers from 2017 to 2020.
James Harden Won’t Play for Sixers Again
Despite opting into his contract with the Sixers, Sam Amick revealed that there is no chance Harden will play for the Sixers again on the “Ball Don’t Lie” podcast.
“When I essentially asked the question of, ‘Is there a small percentage chance that you find a way for James to settle down, ala Kevin Durant last summer, and get him back on the court at the start of the season?’ That door, I was told, was shut right away. The Sixers understand that’s not happening.”
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