Montrezl Harrell among top NBA Draft prospects for Portland Trail Blazers (23rd pick)
Nov 17, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Montrezl Harrell (24) shoots against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Jacksonville State 88-39. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Player: Montrezl Harrell
College: Louisville
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6’7.5”
Weight: 253 lbs
Wingspan: 7’4.25”
Age: 21
Before we dive into Harrell’s basketball skills, take a moment to really think about his jaw-dropping physical characteristics. The guy is a tank. For some context, at 6’7.5” (6’7” without shoes) Harrell has 10+ lbs on the 6’11” LaMarcus Aldridge and a longer wingspan than the lanky Nicolas Batum. None of that weight is wasted either.
Offense
On the offensive end, Harrell is primarily known for his speed, athleticism, and explosive leaping ability, as well as his talent for finishing through contact. This makes him an ideal recipient for lobs in spite of his underwhelming height. He does most of his damage right at the rim, where the Trail Blazers tend to lack much presence, and his combination of ferocity and good hands make him rather threatening in transition.
Defense
Defensively, Harrell is less than fundamental, but makes up for it with sheer effort. He is sturdy enough to stand his ground in the post, but fast enough to recover well when guarding the perimeter. On top of that, he is versatile in the pick and roll defense, able to contain guards should Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts desire to hide the weaker backcourt defenders, and that aforementioned leaping ability lends itself well to blocking shots.
Biggest strengths
The guy has a phenomenal motor. He does everything 100 percent. A player with that kind of speed and mass working hard on both ends of the floor can be a tremendous asset if utilized correctly. He plays above the rim in the half court offense without difficulty and prevents others from doing so when defending. That translates to a lot of good things happening in the paint—rarely seen from the Trail Blazers in 2014-15.
Biggest weaknesses
No one is going to accuse Harrell of having a diverse set of offensive skills. He lacks touch and finesse, preferring to back down his opponents with power. If you thought watching Chris Kaman handle help defense was rough, you may want to avert your gaze when Harrell is met with a double in the low post. Because his general awareness still needs work, it may be difficult for him to become a reliable scorer at the NBA level.
College statistics
Despite his middling feel for the game, Harrell was Louisville’s second-leading scorer in 2014-15, behind volume scorer Terry Rozier. Harrell averaged 15.7 points, as well as 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. His field goal percentage of 56.6 was dragged down by the attempt to add 3-point shooting to his arsenal (connecting on 9-of-37), but there is something to be said for the idea of short-term loss for long-term gain.
Overall fit
Harrell does not outwardly fit the Trail Blazers’ spacing model, but perhaps his freakish athleticism and boundless energy can benefit them regardless. Pairing Aldridge (free agency pending) with a physical forward is a reasonable idea, and one that the Trail Blazers tried with Thomas Robinson for a time. Harrell could be a much more cost effective spin on the old blueprints.
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