Reports: Clippers C Montrezl Harrell leaves NBA bubble to attend to family matter
Los Angeles Clippers center Montrezl Harrell has left the NBA bubble to tend to a family emergency, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports.
It’s not clear when he’ll return, but he does plan to rejoin his team at Disney World, according to the report. Meanwhile forward JaMychal Green made his first appearance with the team on Friday.
Clippers roster in flux
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has been coy about divulging the status of players’ presence in the bubble, but multiple reports point to forward Marcus Morris, center Ivica Zubac and guard Landry Shamet also being absent from Disney World.
When asked about their status on Friday, Rivers declined to provide an explanation.
“I don’t even know, to be honest,” Rivers said. “I don’t even check. JaMychal walked in and surprised the hell out of me. ... Because they're in quarantine and stuff, you don't ever know.”
Who will play center for Clippers?
With Zubac and Harrell both absent, that leaves Joakim Noah as the top center on the Clippers roster currently with the team. The 35-year-old averaged 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. He remained without a team this season until the Clippers signed him shortly before the COVID-19 shutdown in March. He hasn’t played at all this season.
Zubac averages eight points and 7.2 rebounds as the Clippers starting center, while Harrell averages 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds off the bench. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Zubac is expected to eventually join the Clippers in the bubble.
With two weeks remaining before the NBA is scheduled to resume play, the Clippers — who are among the favorites to win the championship — have a lot of questions around their roster.
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