Kofi Inkoom
The Philadelphia 76ers will waive center Montrezl Harrell, reports Shams Charania of the Athletic.
76ers found themselves with 16 players under standard contracts and needed to reduce their roster to 15 before the start of the season.
Montrezl Harrell was among the 14 Sixers players whose 2023/24 salaries were guaranteed, but due to his recent knee surgery after tearing his ACL and meniscus, it was a clear decision to release him.
During the previous season, Harrell had limited playing time in the 76ers’ rotation, averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 11.9 minutes over 57 appearances.
It was somewhat unexpected when the 29-year-old re-signed with the 76ers on a one-year minimum-salary contract this summer, especially considering the additions of Mohamed Bamba and Filip Petrusev to the frontcourt and retaining restricted free agent Paul Reed.
Perhaps Harrell had hoped that the change in the team’s head coaching staff might open up opportunities for more playing time.
In his prior five seasons, he had delivered solid performances, with 14.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 361 appearances, earning him the Sixth Man of the Year accolade in 2020.
An ACL tear is a serious injury that has sidelined several NBA players for an entire year or more in recent seasons.
However, Harrell aims for a swift return after the All-Star break, though this is an ambitious recovery timeline that remains to be seen if it can be achieved.
Let’s say Harrell goes unclaimed on waivers, which is likely, he will receive $2,891,467, and the 76ers will incur a dead-money cap hit of $2,019,706.
This decision opens the way for Filip Petrusev and Danny Green to secure spots on the 15-man regular season roster, both of whom don’t have fully guaranteed salaries.