Assessing Clutch Points’ Montrezl Harrell trade for the Milwaukee Bucks

The lunacy behind Clutch Points’ Montrezl Harrell trade for Milwaukee Bucks

While there are plenty of things to like about Harrell’s hypothetical fit in Milwaukee, there are also some things that could cause skepticism. The most significant concern with Harrell is exactly how undersized he is at the center position, standing at just 6-foot-7. For reference, Khris Middleton is also 6-foot-7. Teams have exploited the undersized Bucks recently and adding a center that is the same height as the starting small forward may not help as much as the champs would like.

While Harrell is scrappy enough to battle for rebounds and score close to the rim, he does not fit the exact mold of what the Bucks are looking for right now, especially on the defensive end. The big man has never been an outstanding defender, partially due to his size, which would also cause some problems in Milwaukee. What the Bucks truly need is a center that can defend the interior at a high-level Lopez’s absence, someone like Mohamed Bamba of the Orlando Magic.

Sticking with how Harrell would fit with the Bucks, his game offensively does not quite translate to what they like to do in Milwaukee. Harrell does a majority of his damage right at the hoop, but the Bucks like to bring in big men that can shoot the ball and space the floor, such as Bobby Portis. Harrell is the complete opposite of Portis as he is not a floor spacer, shooting a woeful 9-of-74 from three for his career. That inability to shoot the long ball would make him an awkward fit in Milwaukee, especially in lineups alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Harrell’s playstyle is far from ideal compared to how the Bucks utilize their typical centers.