A Morris brothers reunion might be in play for the Clippers, Jason Dumas of KRON4 News tweets. Dumas notes that there may be mutual interest in adding free agent forward Markieff Morris – most recently of the Lakers – to a Clippers frontcourt that includes newly re-signed forward Marcus Morris, Markieff’s twin brother. Marcus has agreed to a four-year, $64MM deal to remain with the Clippers.
Markieff’s minutes may be relatively minimal, as he would presumably be the fourth big man in the Clippers’ frontcourt rotation, behind starting power forward Marcus, starting center Ivica Zubac, and just-added veteran power forward/center Serge Ibaka, who will be signed using the club’s full MLE after the departure of Montrezl Harrell to the Lakers. Big man Patrick Patterson was also retained by the Clippers this offseason.
Marcus was a key role-playing piece in the Lakers’ championship run after joining the team off waivers this spring. In 18.4 MPG, Markieff averaged 5.9 PPG and 3.0 RPG, while shooting a stellar 42% on 3.3 three-point attempts per game and 77.8% from the charity stripe across 21 games en route to the Lakers’ 17th NBA title.
Meanwhile, if Marc Gasol ultimately leaves the Raptors for the Lakers, Toronto has strong interest in replacing him with Markieff Morris, and may be able to offer him more than the Clippers can afford.
Here are more free agency rumors:
- Darren Wolfson of KSTP 5 Eyewitness News tweets that the Timberwolves also considered adding free agent guard Torrey Craig to their offseason roster. Craig ultimately agreed to a contract with the Bucks this offseason, the terms of which have yet to be released.
- Though Kent Bazemore wound up returning to the Warriors and his close friend Stephen Curry on a veteran’s minimum contract, the Clippers apparently considered using their $3.6MM bi-annual exception to sign the veteran swingman, Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times tweets.
- Though Sixers GM Daryl Morey has already made significant changes to Philadelphia, the club still needs a great perimeter scorer, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer observes. “Obviously, our job is to always look for opportunities,” Morey commented this weekend. “But we feel very good about where we are right now.” Pompey notes that in Ben Simmons, the Sixers have the kind of All-Star blue chip piece that could fit well into a deal for Rockets superstar perimeter scorer James Harden.
Lol @ everyone trying to trade Ben for Harden. They are not trading Ben, he is the cornerstone. Shoot they just had Ben design the new sixers uniforms (ugly though they may be lol), that is not a sign of a team considering trading him. Philadelphia inquirer might be the worst news source in Philly…and that is quite an accomplishment
How dare you doubt the words/reasoning of The Great Pompey!He is NEVER wrong!
Neither black nor white are really colors IMO thus the unis are colorless.
I wouldn’t say it’s the Inquirer as much as it is Pompey’s bad hot takes. I just think some observers have been frustrated with Simmons’ reluctance to shoot and want to move on. The sixers are not in a 2-year window, Morey will attempt to extend it as long as possible. You don’t move Simmons now for Harden who will be on the decline in a couple years as Simmons enters his prime.
It is true that the sixers lack that perimeter scorer to have the ball in their hands late in games, but those guys are hard to find and outside of Ben, the sixers do not have a ton to offer. What the 2018-19 sixers showed us was that you can win with Ben-Joel if you put shooters around them.
With JJ Redick, on the floor with Joel-Ben, they were +18 per 100 possessions. Now the sixers have picked up Green & Curry who are statistically better career 3-pt shooters than Redick. Both are cheaper, younger, have fewer injuries, and while neither are all-defensive team levels, they’re both better defenders than JJ. Plus being able to move Tobias to the 4, where he should’ve been last year, it opens up space for Ben-Joel to work.
Yes, they can still improve the roster, yes they need another player to be a threat late-game with the ball in their hands. However, why bet against yourself with Harden? There’s no reason to offer the best package you can right now. If the Rockets are expecting cornerstone pieces and picks, there’s no way LaVert & Dinwiddie and a couple late first rounders get Harden in Brooklyn. At least right now.
LOL @ anyone who thinks that Ben Simmons will ever be anything more than a one trick pony. Simmons isn’t even close to a cornerstone player and if the sixers see him as one that’s why they will always fall short. He’s more concerned with tapping Kardashians than getting a jump shot. He can’t hit a shot from more than 5 feet from the basket. I’m not saying Simmons is useless but he’s definitely a on trick pony who will be worthless as his career progresses and all he can do is drive the ball.
ROTY, 2 x All Star, 3rd team all NBA and all defensive team…I imagine there is a short list of players who have accomplished that in 3 years….are there any other “one trick ponies” who have accomplished this?
Philly should pull the trigger on Simmons for Harden…Simmons will be useless plugged in PF…they get a guy they can put at PG in Harden and another shooter….Harden/Embiid would fit better with shooters around them
No thanks…if you want Tobias for Harden we can talk