2 NBA Free Agents That Look Like A Bad Signing

On Nov 28, 2022

Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks to pass the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center on November 25, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. — (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Signing free agents is never an exact science, as an NBA player who looks like a sure-fire contributor could turn out to be a bust for various reasons.

These two free agent signings in particular have turned out to be busts for their respective teams this season.

1. Montrezl Harrell – Philadelphia 76ers

Just three seasons ago, Montrezl Harrell won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award for averaging 18.6 points on 58.0 percent shooting and 7.1 rebounds a game for a Los Angeles Clippers team that was picked by many to win it all.

He played solid ball the next two seasons, but he found himself not wanted in free agency this summer.

The 76ers picked him up a few weeks before training camp, signing him to a relatively low-risk two-year contract worth slightly over $5 million with a player option for the second year.

But Harrell’s play this season has been a far cry from what people have come to expect from him.

He’s playing just 12.3 minutes a game, his lowest since his rookie year, and he’s mustering just 5.4 points per contest.

The Sixers badly need scoring off the bench, as well as scoring in general now that Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden are all banged up, but Harrell hasn’t been able to help so far.

2. Danilo Gallinari – Boston Celtics

This looked like a very good signing at the time, especially given the problems the Celtics had last season generating points from their reserve unit.

For his career, Danilo Gallinari has averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting 38.2 percent from 3-point range, and even in his mid-30s he is still a potent scoring threat.

But he suffered a torn ACL late in the summer while playing in a FIBA World Cup qualifying contest for his native Italy, and he’s expected to miss all of this season.

Danilo Gallinari appears to suffer a non-contact knee injury on this play.

Prayers up for Gallo 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/DT5VRHoB2U

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) August 27, 2022

The saving grace is that Boston signed him to a two-year contract, so within the next 12-18 months, this could turn out to be a solid signing if Gallinari looks like his old self next season.

But at age 34, it isn’t easy to recover from a torn ACL and return to one’s previous level of play.

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