Montrezl Harrell of the Charlotte Hornets faces drug charges following a traffic stop in Richmond, Kentucky last month.
According to court records in a report from the Charlotte Observer, Harrell was apprehended by a Kentucky State Trooper named Jesse Owens around 9:58 a.m. on May 12.
The same report revealed that Harrell was driving south on I-75 at the time because he was following a vehicle in front of him too closely.
After being apprehended, Owens noticed an unusual odor from the 2020 Honda Pilot from the NBA cage.
It was here where the six-foot cage admitted to being in possession of marijuana.
Officers proceeded to search the vehicle, where three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags were found in a backpack in the back seat.
Harrell is charged with possessing or trading eight or more ounces but less than five pounds of marijuana, a Class D offense for first-time offenders.
The said offense is punishable by between one and five years incarceration and a corresponding fine between $1,000 and $10,000.
At the time of writing, the Hornets have not yet issued an official statement regarding Harrel’s case.
Harrell will be a free agent this off-season and is expected to be considered by multiple teams.
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 winner and has spent seven seasons in the league.
He started the 2021-22 season with the Washington Wizards before being sent to the Hornets on a trade last February.
In that deal, the Hornets sent Ish Smith and Vernon Carey Jr., as well as a second-round pick for 2023.
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 scored 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
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