Marcus Morris free agency news

[CelticsElite]

https://theathletic.com/1006765/2019/06/04/charanias-inside-pass-all-eyes-on-davis-and-pelicans-future-as-their-talks-begin-to-take-shape-plus-more-league-notes/

 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.

[PhoSita]

It will make sense for the team to try to re-sign him if they've retained Kyrie and Horford and especially if they've traded for AD.  In such a scenario they won't have cap space so it'll be reasonable to try to resign any useful player using bird rights.

Unless the team has cleared room in the rotation for him to play and the goal is to win a title in the short term, it would make sense to let him walk.

[footey]

It will make sense for the team to try to re-sign him if they've retained Kyrie and Horford and especially if they've traded for AD.  In such a scenario they won't have cap space so it'll be reasonable to try to resign any useful player using bird rights.

Unless the team has cleared room in the rotation for him to play and the goal is to win a title in the short term, it would make sense to let him walk.

Except in that scenario he won't start, while other teams will offer him a starting position.

[PAOBoston]

It will make sense for the team to try to re-sign him if they've retained Kyrie and Horford and especially if they've traded for AD.  In such a scenario they won't have cap space so it'll be reasonable to try to resign any useful player using bird rights.

Unless the team has cleared room in the rotation for him to play and the goal is to win a title in the short term, it would make sense to let him walk.

Except in that scenario he won't start, while other teams will offer him a starting position.

If the Cs have AD, it likely that Tatum/Brown might not be here either. So he’d definitely get playing time and shots coming off the bench.

[Kuberski33]

Someone will overpay.  Good riddance.

[Bobshot]

Morris provides toughness with Smart, but he's also one of those brick throwers of Stevens  who shouldn't be throwing bricks. He might not be affordable when all the dust settles.

[PhoSita]

It will make sense for the team to try to re-sign him if they've retained Kyrie and Horford and especially if they've traded for AD.  In such a scenario they won't have cap space so it'll be reasonable to try to resign any useful player using bird rights.

Unless the team has cleared room in the rotation for him to play and the goal is to win a title in the short term, it would make sense to let him walk.

Except in that scenario he won't start, while other teams will offer him a starting position.

Fair point, although he'd still get a pretty substantial role assuming Tatum is out the door.

[nickagneta]

I have no problem bringing back Morris. I like his toughness and willingness to take the big shot and make them at a decent clip. 44/38/82 are good, not great but good, shooting splits for the 129 games he was here.

Morris can have a role on my team as long as he realizes he is just a role player and only spot starter. If he sees himself as more of a starter, he probably needs to be moved on from.

[bdm860]

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.

Without looking at those team's cap situation, I feel like Lakers, Clippers, and Knicks are hoping to sign Morris to a mid-level deal.  Those teams will be throwing everything at the big stars hoping to land 2 (or 1 if you already have LeBron), and they all will really have to clear out their rosters to make it happen.  And if they're successful, they'll have like 6 guys left on the roster, so I'm sure the plan is to fill the rest of the roster up with ring chasing vets.

Morris seems to fit the profile of a guy you hope to snag with the mid-level.  Will be 30 years old, still productive.  Willing to come off the bench.  Shows he can function well (enough) as a role player on a winning team behind big egos.

And if those teams don't land the big free agents, then they'll be looking to maintain cap room for next year to make a run at Anthony Davis (or maybe Draymond).  So then it turns into offering Morris a big 1 year deal, like Reddick or Caldwell-Pope have been signing.

I struggle to see a rebuilding Bulls team being appealing to a guy like Morris.  Also struggle to see a rebuilding Bulls team wanting to throw a lot of money/years at a vet like Morris to entice him to come.

Kings might be a threat, apparently a good team on the rise, looking for solid a vet to help them get over the hump.  And I don't think have any big name expensive targets after Vucevic.


All that to say, I only see the Knicks, Lakers, Clippers either offering mid-level or 1 year deals.  Kings are a wild card.  But if those are the teams pursuing Morris, he might not be that expensive to keep.

[jambr380]

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.

Without looking at those team's cap situation, I feel like Lakers, Clippers, and Knicks are hoping to sign Morris to a mid-level deal.  Those teams will be throwing everything at the big stars hoping to land 2 (or 1 if you already have LeBron), and they all will really have to clear out their rosters to make it happen.  And if they're successful, they'll have like 6 guys left on the roster, so I'm sure the plan is to fill the rest of the roster up with ring chasing vets.

Morris seems to fit the profile of a guy you hope to snag with the mid-level.  Will be 30 years old, still productive.  Willing to come off the bench.  Shows he can function well (enough) as a role player on a winning team behind big egos.

And if those teams don't land the big free agents, then they'll be looking to maintain cap room for next year to make a run at Anthony Davis (or maybe Draymond).  So then it turns into offering Morris a big 1 year deal, like Reddick or Caldwell-Pope have been signing.

I struggle to see a rebuilding Bulls team being appealing to a guy like Morris.  Also struggle to see a rebuilding Bulls team wanting to throw a lot of money/years at a vet like Morris to entice him to come.

Kings might be a threat, apparently a good team on the rise, looking for solid a vet to help them get over the hump.  And I don't think have any big name expensive targets after Vucevic.

All that to say, I only see the Knicks, Lakers, Clippers either offering mid-level or 1 year deals.  Kings are a wild card.  But if those are the teams pursuing Morris, he might not be that expensive to keep.

But since those teams are currently under the cap, they won't even be able to offer the full or even taxpayers MLE, they will only have the room MLE, which only starts at $4.76M/yr. Teams that are already over the cap (but not the tax) will have the biggest advantage being able to offer $9.25M in year one.

I am not sure of Shams line of thinking here, but it appears Morris might be in line for something bigger if those teams miss out on at least one of their big catches. I imagine Shams is well aware of the salary implications. The Cs would otherwise be in the driver's seat by simply offering something like a $40M/4 year contract (essentially a standard 4 year MLE contract).

This came up in another thread a couple of weeks ago and I argued that it was unfair for teams under the cap to not get the same MLE as teams over it. People told me that it wasn't a big deal since those teams would have enough cap space anyway (and I argued, not if they spent it), but I think the Morris salary info shows why a team under the cap likely won't get Morris (or somebody like him) unless they spend big money on him.

[Tr1boy]

No thanks

and it seemed like this season he was one of the vets, that fueled this nonsense vets vs youngster controversy

Also not a fan of his "no conscious" shooting.  Its like roulette

give the mins to Semi and others instead

[Csfan1984]

He had his moments now it's time to say goodbye.

[bellerephon]

The Celts are much better off keeping Morris despite his flaws. If they keep Kyrie and add AD they will be way over the cap with few options for filling out the roster. Morris is likely the best player they could get by a long margin. Even if they lose Kyrie and don’t get AD they will still be over the cap and Morris is the best bet. The only way they have cap room is if there is no Kyrie, no AD, and Al opts out and moves on.

[Diggles]

If we trade Tatum/Hayward  and maybe brown I agree with posters that Morris will be a solid piece to have.   



My thoughts.   If we could get him and his brother for under 15 million a year for 3 years I think we do it.  Its like 7.5 Million each.    I have been saying this for a while.   We need roll players and these guys are better than that.   24 minutes a night from each of them would solidify the bench.   Along with smart they can guard all 5 positions.   In my opinion.   

PG/SG
SF/PF
PC/C   

Smart
Morris and Morris on our team imposes a will that might be hard to match.   

[bellerephon]

I think Morris will get more than 7-8 million per year.