The Morris twins may have found a way to reunite in the same city.
Markieff Morris and the Detroit Pistons agreed to a buyout Friday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Shortly after, he tweeted that the Lakers are the frontrunners to sign the 6-foot-10 forward.
Los Angeles is in need of depth, particularly after the cross-city Clippers added forward Marcus Morris and guard Reggie Jackson this month.
Morris would give the Lakers a nine-year pro who can score from 2- and 3-point range and create his own shot when necessary, though relying on him to do so isn’t an ideal role for him.
Morris is averaging 11 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 39.7% from deep this year in 22.5 minutes per game.
He will provide valuable spacing for the Lakers. If Los Angeles wants to play a lineup without a center and open up the paint completely, Morris, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma and a fifth guy — if they want to keep size, Danny Green — would be able to do.
A lineup like this could potentially match up against the Houston Rockets’ ultra-small ball lineup if needed in the playoffs.
As important as offensive spacing, if not more so, might be Morris’ presence to defend bigger wings. That could be pivotal if the Lakers meet the Clippers in the playoffs.
With James typically playing a free safety-type role, Morris’ presence would ideally ease James’ burden on Kawhi Leonard or Paul George.
That isn’t to say that Morris is a particularly good defender. He can’t play center. There are times when he looks disinterested on that end of the court.
Los Angeles is betting on him giving consistent effort and using his size as a deterrent. There isn’t much size in Lakers’ perimeter players like Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley or Alex Caruso. Green is listed at 6-foot-6, but he likely can’t put up 25 consistent playoff minutes against star wings anymore. Kyle Kuzma doesn’t yet have the defensive skill.
If Morris does put in the effort to stay in front of his man, he can create interesting lineups on both end for Los Angeles, if he does sign there.
The Lakers needed to make a move to match what the Clippers did across Staples Center.
They found a move that matched it exactly: by getting the chance to sign a guy who is identical down to the tattoos of one of the new Clippers.