Hornets Forward's Felony Drug Charges Could Influence NBA Offseason Options

Montrezl Harrell of the Charlotte Hornets faces felony drug charges stemming from a traffic stop in Richmond, Kentucky last month.

According to court records in a report by the Charlotte Observer, Harrell was pulled over by a Kentucky State Trooper named Jesse Owens at around 9:58 AM on May 12.

The same report bared that Harrell was traveling southbound at the time on I-75 because he was following a vehicle in front of him too closely.

After being pulled over, Owens noticed an unusual odor from the NBA cager’s 2020 Honda Pilot.

It was here where the 6-foot-7 cager admitted to being in the possession of marijuana.

Deputies went on to search the vehicle, where three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags were found in a backpack at the back seat.

Harrell is being charged with possessing or trafficking eight or more ounces but less than five pounds of marijuana, a Class D offense for first-time offenders.

The said offense is punishable between one and five years of incarceration and a corresponding fine between $1,000 and $10,000.

As of this writing, the Hornets have yet to issue an official statement on Harrel’s case.

Harrell is set to become a free agent this offseason, and multiple teams are expected to consider him.

However, it will be interesting if this row will affect his chances of getting a good deal.

Harrell is a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee and has spent seven seasons in the league.

He started the 2021-22 season with the Washington Wizards before he was sent to the Hornets in a trade this past February.

In that deal, the Hornets sent Ish Smith and Vernon Carey Jr., as well as a 2023 second-round pick.

Harrell owns NBA career averages of 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

His best year came during the 2019-20 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he normed 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.