Veteran forward Marcus Morris figures to receive plenty of interest on the free agent market this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports that the Knicks, Lakers, Kings, Clippers, and Bulls are all expected to be “in pursuit” of Morris.
All five of those teams project to have significant cap room this offseason, though Morris is unlikely to be the No. 1 priority for most of them. The Knicks, Lakers, and Clippers will be chasing the top free agents on the market, while the Kings have been frequently linked to Nikola Vucevic. Signing a point guard will be a priority for Chicago.
Still, Morris would be a nice fit for any of those clubs after two strong seasons in Boston. In 129 games (27.4 MPG) for Boston, the 29-year-old averaged 13.8 PPG and 5.8 RPG with a .439/.372/.826 shooting line, providing toughness and defensive versatility in the frontcourt.
League sources tell Charania that Morris remains “open-minded” about re-signing with the Celtics, and the C’s are expected to reciprocate that interest. Boston will have a handful of pressing roster questions to address though, including Kyrie Irving‘s free agency.
Morris, who earned $5.375MM in 2018/19, figures to be in line for a raise on his next deal.
Easy pass.
Agreed. Guys with a tough mindset that can guard 3 positions and hit the 3 are worthless.
The Stooges must be thinking, Wow, what rebuilding team wouldn’t want to spend it’s cap space on a 30 year old backup PF? Of course, I’m sure he reminds Fiz of Karl Malone.
morris sr was on the all star ballot, he provided solid leadership for a young c’s team, plays unselfishly, does all the gritty thing and closes games – watch a game sometime
Seriously, learn the NBA game or shush. Morris is, at best, a rotation player on good team. On the wrong side of 30 next season, even if he were a leader (his rep is as a bully, not a leader), he’s not a good target for a rebuilding team (or most others). If he were any kind of leader, then the Celts would not have had one of the worst locker rooms in the game last year.
Maybe you need to shush? Just because he gets into peoples face makes him a bully? Thats means westbrook, durant, curry, cp3, paul george are all bullys as well- because they get into peoples face. Morris is actually a good teammate and a solid player. Maybe you need to watch the game more closely. Ps the locker room problems were between kyrie, brown and rozier. Not morris
Ah, the “master of the salary cap” speaks. You didn’t make enough of a fool out of yourself in that thread, that you need to double down-? His reputation is as a bully. That’s been true since well before last season. If you followed the NBA (NBA 2k doesn’t count) you’d know that. What does that have to do with getting in people’s faces? Hint: nothing.
FWIW, bullies can be good teammates, as can most other types, but rarely make good leaders, particularly among a group of alpha male professional athletes. A true leader doesn’t just refrain from creating problems himself, he intervenes in those that exist in a manner that’s palatable to all of them.
So DXC, are you saying good teams don’t want to sign a rotation player? What’s your point?
No, pretty clearly, I said he wasn’t right for a rebuilding team. Try again, and focus this time.
Pretty clearly you said he also wasn’t a good target for “a rebuilding team or most others”. Maybe you should just tell us which teams he is a good target for so we don’t have to guess? I am looking forward to learning from you.
A team that believes it can contend next year prior to getting him, but has a need for a backup power player that provides defense and floor spacing. Pretty obvious.
So he’s a good target for about 20 teams.
Exactly.
Morris is going to make money. Morris is going to have a lot of teams that want him. Why are you so worked up about Morris?
Worked up over him? No. Laughing at the notion that a team that (by its own statements) is either signing max FAs (which would preclude them from going after him) or not (which puts them at the beginning of a 2-3 year rebuild), would “target” any 30 year old rotation player. It would be no different with almost any player his age who isn’t a superstar.
I doubt there are 20 teams that believe they can contend (outside of their own media guides) and also have a need for a player with his skill set. 8-10 maybe. Maybe.
He should stay in Boston, there’s no way he gets the respect he get there anywhere else.
Does he though? Morris doesn’t get the free pass Tatum does. They have about the same stats, and whenever I see the Celtics, Morris has more influence. I mean these last playoffs, Morris had a +21 on/off!– while Tatum kind of disappeared.
Of course Tatum has more value, and usually a better on/off, but if you’re trying to win tonight, Morris should start ahead of him.
I don’t get all the hate for Morris.
He’s a big that can help spread the floor. He’s solid (if unspectacular) in most aspects of the game. He’s not going to command a giant salary, and he’s not going to expect a long deal.
Is he a starter on a good team? No. But he’s a decent backup who can start in a pinch.
Basically, he’s a good to maybe just decent role player. Any team that has an empty slot for a big will have some interest in the guy.
This board is bizarre. There isn’t a single team in the NBA that wouldn’t want Morris at the right price. No one is saying he is a star or worth a ton of money.
Agreed. If you get that guy for the mini mid-level it’s a great move. If you pay him the full mid-level? It’s maybe too aggressive. But he does all the things he needs to do at his position. He’s solid.
I wouldn’t call it hate…there are some honest and true points and facts mentioned.
Your second paragraph summed it up really well.
Let me give you an example, a few days ago there was an article talking about Randle and the Suns having a ‘mutual interest’ and the article goes on to imply that Randle is getting as good a deal as is Phoenix if he signs for the MLE…this article is trying to imply Morris should be paid ‘well’ this free agency…as you yourself have said he is not a starter for a good team, but he is a role player on any team he wants to be…it’s up to him if he accepts his value to play a role on a good team or to be ‘overpaid’ by a team that won’t be going anywhere.
He will be a backup with Hayward recovered; he can do better. With no sign of decline, he can probably do better than $5mil too on a shortterm contract.
Celtics will keep him unless someone makes him a stupid offer.
Do not forget, his fierceness was a key element in the Celtic 2018 run. He stepped up and refused to be afraid of LeBron. That kind of backbone goes a long way in the real season.
He called out the locker room BS that derailed the Cs this year.