Marcus Morris free agency news

[PAOBoston]

He was brought in to become a LeBron-stopper

No he wasn't. He was brought in because he was a rotation guy with a cheap two-year deal and the difference between his salary at the time and the final year of Avery's contract was the amount needed to finalize Hayward's free agency signing. Coming from someone who appreciated Morris for who he is, he was never some marquee acquisition.

I think Morris was generally a good acquisition for the Cs. He was a much better player than Bradley ever was. People also seemed to forget that he was the most consistent player on that team for the first three months of last season. I would not be opposed to bringing him under the right circumstances.

At the time, I accepted that the Morris trade was necessary as a means of signing Hayward and thought he was a decent acquisition, but AB was clearly a better player than Morris in Boston. He was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3ppg/6.1rpg/39% 3-pt all while being 1st team All-Defense on an ECF team. Losing AB would have been a much bigger blow if not for JB's emergence in 17-18 and Smart's improvement in 18-19.

Yeah, IMO that's very disrespectful to AB. Bradley was much much better on defence, was a better scorer that season and more efficient. Not even close

Not a huge fan of AB. I think he was a fan favorite but I honestly don’t think he was that good. I think Morris is a more talented player and much better scorer than Bradley ever was.

[jambr380]

He was brought in to become a LeBron-stopper

No he wasn't. He was brought in because he was a rotation guy with a cheap two-year deal and the difference between his salary at the time and the final year of Avery's contract was the amount needed to finalize Hayward's free agency signing. Coming from someone who appreciated Morris for who he is, he was never some marquee acquisition.

I think Morris was generally a good acquisition for the Cs. He was a much better player than Bradley ever was. People also seemed to forget that he was the most consistent player on that team for the first three months of last season. I would not be opposed to bringing him under the right circumstances.

At the time, I accepted that the Morris trade was necessary as a means of signing Hayward and thought he was a decent acquisition, but AB was clearly a better player than Morris in Boston. He was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3ppg/6.1rpg/39% 3-pt all while being 1st team All-Defense on an ECF team. Losing AB would have been a much bigger blow if not for JB's emergence in 17-18 and Smart's improvement in 18-19.

Yeah, IMO that's very disrespectful to AB. Bradley was much much better on defence, was a better scorer that season and more efficient. Not even close

Not a huge fan of AB. I think he was a fan favorite but I honestly don’t think he was that good. I think Morris is a more talented player and much better scorer than Bradley ever was.

I guess it just depends on the type of player you prefer. I agree that Morris has some impressive iso skills and can get a tough bucket when necessary, but AB is so ultra-disciplined. Putting aside his all-world defense, he followed the plays that were run for him to a T. His ability to come off a screen and pull-up was in the elite category. Guys like him are a necessary component to championship teams - not everybody needs to be able to score 1 on 1 to be successful.

[IDreamCeltics]

Eh, Marcus Morris is potentially about to be on his 5th team since he entered the NBA.  I've never heard of a team that expressed regret that he left or that deeply missed his production after his exit.

[nickagneta]

He was brought in to become a LeBron-stopper

No he wasn't. He was brought in because he was a rotation guy with a cheap two-year deal and the difference between his salary at the time and the final year of Avery's contract was the amount needed to finalize Hayward's free agency signing. Coming from someone who appreciated Morris for who he is, he was never some marquee acquisition.

I think Morris was generally a good acquisition for the Cs. He was a much better player than Bradley ever was. People also seemed to forget that he was the most consistent player on that team for the first three months of last season. I would not be opposed to bringing him under the right circumstances.

At the time, I accepted that the Morris trade was necessary as a means of signing Hayward and thought he was a decent acquisition, but AB was clearly a better player than Morris in Boston. He was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3ppg/6.1rpg/39% 3-pt all while being 1st team All-Defense on an ECF team. Losing AB would have been a much bigger blow if not for JB's emergence in 17-18 and Smart's improvement in 18-19.

Yeah, IMO that's very disrespectful to AB. Bradley was much much better on defence, was a better scorer that season and more efficient. Not even close

I don't agree that at the time of the deal, Morris was better than Bradley.

But since the trade, Morris has proven to be the much better player.

[Surferdad]

Eh, Marcus Morris is potentially about to be on his 5th team since he entered the NBA.  I've never heard of a team that expressed regret that he left or that deeply missed his production after his exit.

Players get traded for all sorts of reasons, many of them unrelated to how talented they are.

[bellerephon]

We need to keep in mind that the Celtic’s options are limited. Even if Kyrie leaves they are over the cap. Can they get someone better than Morris with MLE? And if they use the MLE to replace Morris that leaves them with only vet minimum to fill out the roster. They are likely better with Morris than without him.

[Birdman]

Im hoping Morris comes back

[Chief]

He was brought in to become a LeBron-stopper

No he wasn't. He was brought in because he was a rotation guy with a cheap two-year deal and the difference between his salary at the time and the final year of Avery's contract was the amount needed to finalize Hayward's free agency signing. Coming from someone who appreciated Morris for who he is, he was never some marquee acquisition.

I think Morris was generally a good acquisition for the Cs. He was a much better player than Bradley ever was. People also seemed to forget that he was the most consistent player on that team for the first three months of last season. I would not be opposed to bringing him under the right circumstances.

At the time, I accepted that the Morris trade was necessary as a means of signing Hayward and thought he was a decent acquisition, but AB was clearly a better player than Morris in Boston. He was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3ppg/6.1rpg/39% 3-pt all while being 1st team All-Defense on an ECF team. Losing AB would have been a much bigger blow if not for JB's emergence in 17-18 and Smart's improvement in 18-19.

Yeah, IMO that's very disrespectful to AB. Bradley was much much better on defence, was a better scorer that season and more efficient. Not even close

I don't agree that at the time of the deal, Morris was better than Bradley.

But since the trade, Morris has proven to be the much better player.

Most players look better when playing for CBS.

[IDreamCeltics]

We need to keep in mind that the Celtic’s options are limited. Even if Kyrie leaves they are over the cap. Can they get someone better than Morris with MLE? And if they use the MLE to replace Morris that leaves them with only vet minimum to fill out the roster. They are likely better with Morris than without him.

Getting rid of Marcus Morris will be a big improvement.

This offseason will be all about addition by subtraction.  Losing Kyrie and Morris will make Brad's job easier.  The only help he needs is opening up more minutes and more shots for Jason and Jaylen. Everyone knows this. 

I don't care if Rozier or Smart is the starting PG.  They basically have the exact same production levels.  I also don't care if one of or both of them is traded - they're both just middle of the pack guards who could basically be replaced via draft or free-agency any year with someone equally talented. 

As other people have pointed out, Ainge has done a HORRIBLE job managing the cap. I've been saying this for years.  Gordon Hayward's albatross of a contract forces them to build through the draft.  Hopefully Ainge doesn't repeat his blunders of the past and refuse to release end of the bench guys who have shown no NBA ability in favor of "draft-and-stash-2019."  The team is one draft home-run away from title contention.  Sometimes you just need to get lucky and Ainge's best characteristic as a GM is that he's lucky.

As long as Al Horford resigns the team will be fine.  He's been the best player on the team for years and he's done it without undermining coaches and teammates or constantly campaigning through the media for recognition.  It makes sense that Jaylen Brown says the veteran leader he looks to for guidance is Horford.  Now contrast that to Terry Rozier who repeatedly cites Kyrie Irving as a great leader and teammate.  That should make complete sense as well.
 

[RazzelnoDazzel]

Morris has a lot I don’t like and a lot I do like. Wanting him back 100% depends on whose on the roster. If we trade for Davis with or without Kyrie we will need Morris.  If there is no trade for AD then I’d rather not bring back Morris. He as a nonchalant attitude at times definitely on defense. I’ve noticed that a lot of runs made by the opposing team was when Morris was in and I could see the assignments the he’d blow.

But if AD comes we will need another scorer, so I wouldn’t mind Morris coming back although him and Brown seem to disagree a lot.

[Monkhouse]

Half the people couldn't even make it in the NBA as a scout, analyst, let alone assistant GM. It is amazing how much criticism people can give Ainge, while they sit at home typing furiously on their keyboards..

That being said, Morris is only worth keeping if we need a good back up swing/forward on our roster.

[nickagneta]

We need to keep in mind that the Celtic’s options are limited. Even if Kyrie leaves they are over the cap. Can they get someone better than Morris with MLE? And if they use the MLE to replace Morris that leaves them with only vet minimum to fill out the roster. They are likely better with Morris than without him.

The Celtics own Morris' Bird rights. They can re-sign him without using the MLE.

[Vermont Green]

We need to keep in mind that the Celtic’s options are limited. Even if Kyrie leaves they are over the cap. Can they get someone better than Morris with MLE? And if they use the MLE to replace Morris that leaves them with only vet minimum to fill out the roster. They are likely better with Morris than without him.

The Celtics own Morris' Bird rights. They can re-sign him without using the MLE.

I think you are both saying there same thing.  If we don't sign Morris with Bird rights, we have to use the MLE to replace him.  If we sign Morris with Bird rights, we can use the MLE on another player.

Morris w/ Bird + Another Player with MLE is better than some vet min and a player with MLE.

[Monkhouse]

He was brought in to become a LeBron-stopper

No he wasn't. He was brought in because he was a rotation guy with a cheap two-year deal and the difference between his salary at the time and the final year of Avery's contract was the amount needed to finalize Hayward's free agency signing. Coming from someone who appreciated Morris for who he is, he was never some marquee acquisition.

I think Morris was generally a good acquisition for the Cs. He was a much better player than Bradley ever was. People also seemed to forget that he was the most consistent player on that team for the first three months of last season. I would not be opposed to bringing him under the right circumstances.

At the time, I accepted that the Morris trade was necessary as a means of signing Hayward and thought he was a decent acquisition, but AB was clearly a better player than Morris in Boston. He was coming off a season where he averaged 16.3ppg/6.1rpg/39% 3-pt all while being 1st team All-Defense on an ECF team. Losing AB would have been a much bigger blow if not for JB's emergence in 17-18 and Smart's improvement in 18-19.

Yeah, IMO that's very disrespectful to AB. Bradley was much much better on defence, was a better scorer that season and more efficient. Not even close

Not a huge fan of AB. I think he was a fan favorite but I honestly don’t think he was that good. I think Morris is a more talented player and much better scorer than Bradley ever was.

Talented?

That is extremely debatable...

Morris isn't even that much of a better scorer... He literally takes awful shots, and questionable shot selection, which is probably one of his biggest issues in his entire career. Morris has never seen a shot that he didn't like, and that is the problem. Give AB 2-3 more inches on his height, I don't even think would even be a debate... AB put more effort, hustle, and was a locker room leader. While his small stature and propensity to being injured probably put a huge strain on his achievements and accomplishments, he went from being that guy who out hustled everyone through back door cuts, and defending players that were 4-6 inches taller. (Remember, he used to guard PG-13/Hayward/Irving, players easily had 2-3 inches on him. I think AB was maybe 6'1 if we're being honest.)

AB in 2015-2017 had better numbers, better defender, scored more, and was far far more efficient.

If Morris is really that much more talented, why wasn't he always starting on every team he was? Truth of the matter is, he was great with us, but he's also a terrible shot taker, had chemistry issues with previous teams, and is going to earn probably upwards of $12 million. Probably might be out of our price range.

That really is a huge injustice to AB.

Morris's best year was 14/5/3 on 43/36/75
AB dropped on his best year, one year removed from All Defensive Team - 16/6/2 on 46/39/73

And even at that, it could've been argued if AB stayed healthy for 10-15 more games that season, I think he could've at least gotten 2nd All Defensive Team.

[bellerephon]

We need to keep in mind that the Celtic’s options are limited. Even if Kyrie leaves they are over the cap. Can they get someone better than Morris with MLE? And if they use the MLE to replace Morris that leaves them with only vet minimum to fill out the roster. They are likely better with Morris than without him.

The Celtics own Morris' Bird rights. They can re-sign him without using the MLE.

I think you are both saying there same thing.  If we don't sign Morris with Bird rights, we have to use the MLE to replace him.  If we sign Morris with Bird rights, we can use the MLE on another player.

Morris w/ Bird + Another Player with MLE is better than some vet min and a player with MLE.

Yes, exactly.