Marcus Morris
I know this isn’t news to anyone, but things have been complicated for the New York Knicks.
Their front office swung for the fences last summer in an attempt to land Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving in free agency. Instead, they struck out. They had to use their cap space on a zillion power forwards instead.
One bright spot of the Knicks’ season has been Marcus Morris. The franchise wanted him to bring toughness, grit, and veteran leadership to the young team. He’s brought just that, and is leading the team in scoring in the process.
Morris averages a career high 19.6 points per game, and nearly shoots 44 percent from the three point line.
He was a helper in the Boston Celtics playoff run last year, and was coveted by the San Antonio Spurs badly enough that they cleared out Davis Bertans just to sign him. It’s clear that Morris can contribute to a winning team in the right situation.
It was reported a week ago that the Knicks organization planned to hold on to Morris and look to extend him this summer. However, plans have changed since the Knicks fired their President of Basketball Operations yesterday.
Just yesterday, Steve Mills was on the phone trying to negotiate trades for the Knicks, including a pursuit for Golden State's D'Angelo Russell, league sources tell ESPN. Ownership pushed to change course on plans to forgo trade talks for Marcus Morris, too. He's available now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here, but if Morris somehow winds up on a Western Conference playoff team other than the Jazz, it could cause big problems for Utah.
The Clippers have been the closest team linked to this situation in rumors all season long, and they could certainly use Morris as an upgrade over Moe Harkless as they go all-in for a championship.
If the Clippers roll out a lineup with Lou Williams, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Morris, and Montrezl Harrell at the center, how do the Jazz combat that?
Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, and Bojan Bogdanovic are a good option, but they can’t play 48 minutes a night. Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley need to get their minutes in somehow, and I’m worried they will be exposed against the Clippers large lineups.
Lakers/Clippers in trade conversations about Knicks' Marcus Morris, sources. NY interested in Kyle Kuzma; would need Danny Green's contract to make work. NY would want to move Green to another team. Clippers willing to part with Mo Harkless, but like Landry Shamet, who NY wants.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 5, 2020
Another team that has been recently linked to Marcus Morris is the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the Knicks have an interest in third year forward Kyle Kuzma. If given the chance, Kuzma has the potential to develop into a nice piece for a rebuilding team if given the chance.
It’s an interesting possibility of having Morris on the Lakers; Morris would give the Lake Show a nice backup to Anthony Davis and cause even more problems for the Utah Jazz who have a dearth at the power forward spot.
It may be a quiet trade deadline, or we may see a move that puts one of the L.A teams over the top. But whatever happens, the Jazz need to be at their best come playoff time.