2:49pm: The Pistons have made it official, announcing in a press release that they’ve bought out Morris. He’s on track to clear waivers on Sunday.
2:32pm: Just three days after buying out point guard Reggie Jackson, the Pistons have reached a buyout agreement with another veteran contributor, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the club is buying out forward Markieff Morris.
Morris, 30, has appeared in 44 games for the Pistons this season, averaging 11.0 PPG and 3.9 RPG with a .450/.397/.772 shooting line in 22.5 minutes per contest.
Morris’ two-year contract with Detroit paid him $3.2MM this season and included a $3.36MM player option for next season. Presumably, if he had finished the season with the Pistons, he would have opted out and tested the free agent market, so it’ll be interesting to see how much money he gives up as part of the buyout agreement.
According to Charania (via Twitter), the Lakers have emerged as a frontrunner for Morris. That would add a new layer of intrigue to a potential Los Angeles showdown in the Western Conference playoffs, since the Clippers added Morris’ twin Marcus Morris in a deadline deal earlier this month.
The Raptors have also expressed interest in Markieff, Charania adds.
Literally a fraction of the cost of what clippers paid i love it.
For a fraction of the player the Clippers got
they’re actually not much different. Marcus’ stats are inflated by increased playing time/shots on a bad Knick team.
Marcus stats with clippers 11 pts 6 rebounds 33 mins a game for clippers..lot easier to be top player on crappy team.. oh and they 1-2 in the 3 games only beating sorry Cavs team..
Inflated stats on a bad Knicks team…huh ok. So where are Markieffs inflated stats on a bad Pistons team?
Sixers sitting on their hands? Elton Brand have the coronavirus?
He wouldn’t have as big a role in Philly I feel tho that’s why Lakers or Toronto makes more sense
He’d probably only get 15-20mpg at least all of Mike Scott’s minutes. You think hell get over 20mpg with LAL?
Yes we have no sg that can knock down shots kuzma and green have been ineffective.
He’s not a sg
Should have traded kuzma honestly
Sixers have plenty of guys on the roster who can do what he does
Sixers Lakers or rockets one of them will get him
He would probably be an upgrade over Jeff Green, who is on a 10-day deal, so they might cut him replace him with Morris.
Pistons have made 3 terrible moves in a row. FREE D ROSE COME HOME
Battle of LA will be interesting
I’d pass on the Lakers if I were him. The 4-5 are the only two spots that the Lakers are deep. Not sure how much he has left, but if he wants real minutes, there are better places.
How they deep 4-5? They deep in guards.. kuzma, Dudley and Howard are there only real backups 4-5.. when mcgee was out Dwight started at center.. that pushed Dudley into playing mins.. not ideal at all.. they need a banger to guard kawhi and pg and Giannis.. kuzma and kcp have gotten torched by kawhi
Depth I was referring to assumes was more qualitative. Pre-Morris depth chart:
5 spot: McGee, Howard and AD
4 spot: AD, Kuzma and LeBron (smaller lineups)
If an injury occurs, Morris is valuable. But if not, where do his minutes come from? No room at the 5 where they’ve gotten elite minutes from 3 guys. Would have to be Kuzma’s backup 4 minutes, but is he really better?
They have lots of guards, true, but nobody (except maybe an aging Rondo) who can facilitate against playoff defenses when LBJ goes to the bench. Are Green and Bradley still 30+ min a game playoff guys? Their back up wings have their moments, but aren’t the kind of front end bench guys you want in the playoffs.
They were looking to move Kuzma to strengthen their perimeter for a reason. Had they done that, Morris would have his (Kuzma’s) role. Right now, he’s surplus IMO. Good signing, but some quality of player at a perimeter spot would be better.