JULY 6: The Wizards and Pistons have officially completed the Morris trade, according to press releases from both teams. Washington will receive either the Nets’ or Mavericks’ 2027 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable).
JUNE 30: The Wizards and Pistons have agreed to a trade that will send point guard Monte Morris to Detroit, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Omari Sankofa of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), Washington will acquire a future second-round pick in exchange for Morris. No other players will be involved in the swap, Sankofa adds.
Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the pick will be a 2027 second-rounder. The Wizards will also create a $9.8MM trade exception — equivalent to Morris’ salary — as part of the deal, per Robbins.
As Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype tweets, the Wizards are facing a roster crunch, particularly in the backcourt. Moving Morris helps address both of those issues. The Wizards now have 16 players under contract and have multiple mid-sized trade exceptions after previously dealing away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, Gozlan notes.
Morris’ contract will be absorbed into Detroit’s remaining cap room and the deal will be completed July 6, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). The Pistons still have the $7.8MM room exception to work with, says Marks, who adds that the Wizards are $30.5MM below the luxury tax line.
A former second-round pick and Michigan native, Morris spent his first five seasons with the Nuggets before being traded to the Wizards last summer. The 28-year-old had a solid first season with Washington in 2022/23, averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds on .480/.382/.831 shooting in 62 games (61 starts, 27.3 minutes).
Morris, who has been one of the league’s best at taking care of the ball throughout his career, including a 5.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, is ideally used as a backup, because he’s not a great defensive player. His measured, efficient approach should mesh well with a young Pistons team looking to take the next step in their rebuild.
Morris is entering the final year of his contract, which explains, to some extent, the limited return the Wizards received in the deal. The fact that they were able to shed his salary without taking any on themselves must have held some appeal as well.
Pistons really loading up on lead guards I see. Cade, Ivey, Killian, Ausar, Sasser & now Monte. Id guess that this means Killian is on his way outta town which is prob for the best. I don’t mind that backcourt group at all tho. Adding a steady, productive, vet pg with playoff exp is a really good move for a young team like the Pistons
Morris should ask for the buyout. He can really help a good team as long as he’s not the main playmaker.
I don’t think they would’ve given up a 2nd to get him just to buy him out
Monte Morris is going to bring that young veteran leadership. He can show Jaden Ivey Cade Cunningham and Marcus Sasser how to run a team. He’s a very solid backup Point Guard. He’s been starting lately but he’s really a backup Point Guard.
Not much here. DET is just rolling over its remaining cap space to next year preferring Morris to what they might sign for 1 year in the FA market. WSH is trying to ??? (unclear). But they’re amassing quite a few 2nd round picks.
DET FO would have done better in their rebuild if they had put guys like Morris, Burks, Harris and BB in place 3 years ago.
The Wizards are out here trying to pay super max level taxes just based on their exemptions. I think they just wanna pay all the money just so people remember they exist.
Wait…. Did they fold ?
What exactly do you think an exemption is used for? Because I’m guessing they mostly expire for WAS
Not surprised by this at all after trading for Harris. They were already going to add a veteran pg of some variety with both CoJo and McGruder being free agents. This takes care of that. Also he is being brought in to teach the young guys how to take care of the ball. If there is one thing that all of Cade, Hayes, Ivey need to work on as lead guards it is taking care of the ball. All young players struggle with turnovers and top picks are no exception.
Weaver has proclaimed in the past he envisions a team that isn’t reliant on “position” and a team where multiple facilitators are on the court at the same time.
Thompson is going to more of a wing but won’t be a starter this year anyhow.
Really hoping they can add another combo forward like McDaniels, TJ Warren, Torrey Craig. I’m not certain on their current amount of players under contract but 2 would be helpful. Due to only having roughly $7 million to spend I no longer think they could add Craig and McDaniels both but maybe McDaniels and Warren
I’m also not sure who I want to see gone more. Wiseman or Bagley. Neither can shoot or try hard to rebound, one can’t/doesn’t play defense and the other hasn’t seen the court enough to really tell yet. I’d probably trade Bagley. He can score sure but he is also more in line with what you see is what you get and wiseman does have interesting untapped potential.
Monte Morris, Burks, Livers, Duren with picks for Paul and Kuminga. Cade plays SG, Ivey PG, Kuminga SF, Stewart PF/C, Bagley PF, Thompson SG/SF. Find a veteran center.