BOSTON — Before the Celtics signed Blake Griffin remaining month to assist fill a void created through Rob Williams’ knee surgical procedure, the workforce was once in talks with any other free agent heart they confronted off in opposition to on opening night time: Montrezl Harrell.
Harrell agreed to a handle the 76ers again on September 6 value two years for the veteran’s minimal and integrated a participant’s possibility for 12 months two of the contract.
In an unique interview on Tuesday, Harrell instructed MassLive that the Celtics have been some of the best groups focused on him prior to he made the verdict to signal with Philadelphia.
“We had talks,” Harrell mentioned of Boston’s hobby. “Honestly, it didn’t work out. We did have conversations but their mindset, where they wanted me to play or how they wanted me to play was not ideal. The situation I’m basically in or was going to be in, it wasn’t going to work out.”
The Celtics signed different free agent bigs to coaching camp offers previous in the summer season (Noah Vonleh, Mfiondu Kabengele) however left a few roster spots open to pursue a extra confirmed participant like Harrell, who remained a free agent for months this summer season after his drug arrest in June. The Celtics saved tabs on Harrell whilst his prison state of affairs was once taken care of out, opening the door for him to signal as a free agent as soon as his fees have been diminished.
“It was towards the end (of free agency),” Harrell mentioned of the talks with Boston. “After I finished up everything I had going on this summer. It’s no secret, everywhere knew what took place (with my arrest). After I finished up that (legal situation), they had a few conversations with my agent but the role they wanted me to be in wasn’t going to benefit me, but just their situation. At the same time, it’s got to be a give and take but you have to give something.”
Harrell break up time between the Wizards and Hornets remaining season, averaging 13.1 issues, 6.1 rebounds, and two assists in step with recreation on 64 % capturing in 23.1 mins in step with contest. The former Sixth Man of the Year in the end elected for a backup position at the back of Joel Embiid, making his debut for the 76ers on Tuesday night time at TD Garden in spite of hobby from the protecting East champs.
When pressed about why the position the Celtics have been discussing with him again in September wasn’t enough, Harrell were given candid in regards to the talks Boston had along with his agent.
“It wasn’t really going to help me,” Harrell declared of a place in Boston. “I mean, I’m definitely for the team and organization, but at the same time, if you are telling the player before the season even started they aren’t going to be playing games, that’s tough to say. That’s not going to work. I can’t do nothing with that. That’s how it went.”
Since Harrell signed with the 76ers, the Celtics have misplaced Rob Williams for a minimum of the primary two months of the season as he recovers from proper knee surgical procedure. The Celtics depended on a large guy rotation that incorporates Noah Vonleh and Blake Griffin in their opener beneath head trainer Joe Mazzulla. Vonleh performed 20 mins all the way through Tuesday’s opener. Harrell performed 11 mins for the Sixers in opposition to Boston and completed with two issues and a block.