Montrezl Harrell, a forward for the NBA, is now facing drug-related charges. Three pounds of marijuana was found by police in a Kentucky traffic stop last month. Harrell was to be in court Monday to face the Madison County charges in Kentucky. Court records say that Harrell will now appear next month.

According to the cited police report Charlotte ObserverHarrell was traveling southbound in a Honda Pilot 2020 rental on I-75 when, on May 12, he was pulled over for not following closely enough behind the vehicle ahead of him by a Kentucky State trooper. In the report, Trooper Jesse Owens wrote that after stopping Harrell’s vehicle, he “observed” the odor of marijuana. The citation also notes that Harrell “admitted to being in possession of marijuana and produced a small amount from his sweatpants.” Law enforcement officers then searched the vehicle Harrell was driving. During the search, the trooper discovered “three pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed bags” in a backpack that was found on the back seat of the vehicle, according to the traffic citation.

Harrell was charged with transporting less than 5 pounds of marijuana. According to Kentucky law, possession of less than eight ounces of marijuana and more than five pounds is considered a first-degree felony. The sentence for the first offense is one to five year imprisonment and a $1,000-to $10,000 fine.

The Charlotte Hornets have declined to comment on Harrell’s case, according to multiple media reports.

8-Year NBA Career

Harrell is a native of North Carolina and is currently in his eighth NBA season. Harrell, a North Carolina native, is in his eighth season with the NBA. He was a NCAA Division 1 college player for Kentucky’s University of Louisville Cardinals. His averages were 11.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounding, and 1.1 blocked shots. As a freshman, he played on the Cardinals’ 2013 national championship team, although the title was later taken away by the league for NCAA violations.

Harrell, 32nd overall, was selected by the Houston Rockets as the 32nd selection in the NBA draft’s second round. On September 19, 2015, he signed a three-year contract with the Rockets and made his NBA debut with the team in the season’s opening game against the Denver Nuggets on October 28, scoring eight points and pulling down three rebounds. Harrell made his first career start with the NBA on November 13, playing 13 minutes of game time and sinking five points in the Rockets’ defeat of the Denver Nuggets. In his rookie season, Harrell was assigned multiple times to the Rockets D league affiliate, Rio Valley Grande Vipers.

Chris Paul was traded to Los Angeles Clippers by the Rockets in June 2017. The deal included Harrell and Patrick Beverley as well DeAndre Lunggins, Darrun Hilliards, Lou Williams, DeAndre Lyggins, Lou Williams and Kyle Wiltjer. In September 2020, Harrell was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, an award given by the league for the season’s best bench player. In that same season, the Clippers reached the playoffs and lost in seven games to the Denver Nuggets. In the playoffs, Harrell averaged 10.5 rebounds and 2.99 points per game. This was after the Nuggets had lost the first three series games.

Harrell signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on November 22, 2020, making his debut with the team one month later and logging 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists against his former team and Lakers’ crosstown rival the Clippers. Harrell was part of the Russell Westbrook deal that saw him traded to Washington Wizards in August 2021. On February 11, Harrell was traded to Charlotte Hornets. He scored six rebounds and had 15 points in his first game for the team. Harrell is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when the NBA’s new league year begins in July.