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A former Los Angeles Lakers player from the 2020-21 season is facing a felony drug charge after police revealed marijuana was found in his car during a traffic stop, according to Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.
Montrezl Harrell, who is currently a member of the Charlotte Hornets, was pulled over on I-75 in Richmond, Kentucky, on the morning of May 12 after a state trooper said he was following another vehicle too closely, Boone reported. Police said he smelled marijuana and eventually arrested Harrell after finding three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags inside the car, according to a police report obtained by the Observer.
Harrell could face up to 5 years in prison.
Harrell, 28, has been charged with trafficking less than five pounds of marijuana, the Observer reported. If he is convicted of that charge, the Louisville player could face a minimum of one year in jail and a maximum of five years in prison. under state law, plus a maximum fine of $10,000.
The police report indicated that Harrell was driving a silver 2020 Honda Pilot, which he told police was rented, according to the outlet. Harrell admitted to having marijuana, the police report stated, according to the Observer. Police found the three pounds of marijuana in a backpack in the back seat, the outlet reported.
Kentucky Justice Court records show Harrell is scheduled for a July 13 preliminary hearing in Madison County District Court. According to the Observer, the Hornets declined to comment on the situation.
Harrell is a free agent.
Harrell entered the NBA in 2015. The Houston Rockets selected him 32nd in the 2015 draft. The North Carolina native played two seasons for the Rockets and averaged 6.9 points and 2.9 rebounds.
In the summer of 2017, the Rockets traded Harrell a Los Angeles Clippers. The 6-foot-7 player spent three seasons with the Clippers and averaged 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. Harrell won the 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.
After the 2019-20 season, Harrell became a free agent and signed a two-year, $18.9 million contract with the Lakers. He played in 69 games during the 2020-21 season and averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds. The Lakers won 42 games y lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2021 playoffs in six games.
Harrell only played one season for the Lakers. He was traded to the Washington Wizards in the summer of 2021 after trading for Russell Westbrook. Harrell played for two teams in the 2021-22 season. He played in 46 games with the Wizards before being traded to the Hornets. The professional finished the 2021-22 campaign averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 71 games with Washington and Charlotte.
Once the free agency trading period opens on June 30, Harrell will become a free agent. Harrell earned $9.7 million in 2021-22 and is averaging 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 458 regular-season games with the Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Wizards and Hornets in his career.
According to ESPN, it was not immediately clear if Harrell had retained an attorney.
