Markieff Morris has received a buyout with the Detroit Pistons. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly the frontrunners for the forward.
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.
On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy and Frank Urbina preview the 2020 NBA trade deadline. They discuss the teams and players to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours. Time-stamps are below!
1:15: The New York Knicks are reportedly open for business since firing Steve Mills. Now, they’re apparently open to trading Marcus Morris. They’re also one of the teams in the mix for D’Angelo Russell.
4:45: Discussing what the Los Angeles Lakers may do ahead of the deadline. They’ve shown interest in Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Schroeder and Darren Collison among others, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Also, will Kyle Kuzma be traded?
8:15: The Los Angeles Clippers are keeping tabs on what the Lakers are doing and they’re competing for many of the same players. Alex and Frank discuss the Clippers’ options. If they land Morris, how much better would they be?
12:15: The Phoenix Suns are reportedly listening to offers for Kelly Oubre all of a sudden, which is somewhat surprising. Are the Suns sellers?
13:40: Discussing the Golden State Warriors’ trade talks, including their options with D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III.
21:20: The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly want to add a shooter, but Milwaukee doesn’t want to disrupt their chemistry and Philadelphia doesn’t have many trade chips.
26:55: Prior to the Warriors-Nets game in Brooklyn, Alec Burks was on the phone for a while and then was consoled by Warriors staffers, according to HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky. Alex and Frank react to this as well as the fact that Burks and Robinson III were held out of tonight’s game.
28:35: Breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder’s options leading up to the deadline. They’re open to selling Schroeder, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams, but they have reportedly fielded some calls as a buyer too.
31:30: The Miami Heat have expressed in Gallinari and Iguodala (who they traded for shortly after this was recorded). Alex and Frank discuss Miami’s options, Iguodala’s fit with the Heat and more.
34:50: What will the San Antonio Spurs do ahead of the deadline? They’ve reportedly had conversations about DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay, but they’re asking for a lot. They’ve also made calls that indicate they could be a buyer.
37:15: Discussing the Detroit Pistons’ options in regards to Andre Drummond, Markieff Morris and Derrick Rose.
40:55: Breaking down the Toronto Raptors’ approach to the deadline. They are reportedly a buyer. Will Masai Ujiri make a move? And how tough is it for Masai to make a trade these days after fleecing so many rival executives?
43:40: Alex and Frank each share a trade that they’d love to see happen prior to the deadline.
If you’re interested in advertising on The HoopsHype Podcast, email hoopshype@hoopshype.com for more information.
Detroit Pistons forward Markieff Morris is reportedly a player the Boston Celtics have interest in trading for, reports The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
The Boston Celtics may be interested in trading for Detroit Pistons forward Markieff Morris, reports The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
Twin brother of former Celtic Marcus Morris Sr., the swingman is a solid defender able to cover beefier bigs for short stints and knock down outside shots at a 39.3 % rate.
Perhaps most interesting is that he’s been doing it for just $3.2 million this season with a player option for just $160,000 more in 2020-21.
With the 3pm Feb. 6 trade deadline less than 24 hours distant, Boston is far from the only team trying to secure his services — O’Connor reports the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers have all expressed interest in the Philadelphia native.
Marcus Morris and the Knicks have everyone's attention, but the Pistons have also received calls from multiple contenders for his brother, Markieff Morris.
The Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics are among those teams interested in Markieff Morris, per league sources.
While Morris’ contract may be small, such an arms race for his services could potentially see a first-round pick change hands to secure such a deal.
The Celtics have as many as three incoming firsts for the 2020 NBA Draft and not enough open roster spots available for them, so the deal might make sense when considering they may need to use draft assets to clear space anyhow.
Whatever the ask, Boston is well-positioned to make a move to fortify bench shooting with a veteran player. That move may not end up being Morris — or anyone at all — but we’re less than a day away from finding out.
The Philadelphia 76ers have expressed interest in Detroit Pistons forward Markieff Morris.
The trade deadline in the NBA is officially less than 24 hours away and the Philadelphia 76ers need to get to work. The lack of spacing on offense has been a big issue for this team all season long as they work out the kinks on that end of the floor and they have expressed a desire to add a shooter to the roster.
They had an interest in bringing back Robert Covington, but he has been since moved to the Houston Rockets which forces general manager Elton Brand to look somewhere else. One of those other interests has been Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine, but now they have changed their interest to another shooter from the Central division.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Sixers have made a call to the Detroit Pistons about the availability of Markieff Morris.
Marcus Morris and the Knicks have everyone's attention, but the Pistons have also received calls from multiple contenders for his brother, Markieff Morris.
The Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics are among those teams interested in Markieff Morris, per league sources.
Morris is averaging 11 points and 3.9 rebounds while drilling a career-high 39.3% of his 3-pointers while playing in 42 games with Detroit and 16 games started. He would offer a stretch big capability to Philadelphia off the bench and he provides an edge and a toughness that will be big for this team.
The clock continues to tick towards the 3:00 p.m. EST deadline on Thursday so Brand had better work quickly. [lawrence-related id=25014,25002,24992]
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion
Kobe Bryant did.
When the superstar basketball player tore his Achilles tendon, he reportedly became obsessed with the story of Achilles from the Trojan War. Bryant, a legendary warrior in his own right and in his daily mentality, was certainly mythological in each and every sense in his accomplishments during his time on this Earth.
Numerology, the belief that numbers have an almost supernatural impact on life, often plays a large role in myth. It is one of the reasons why teams retire certain numbers for their best players; the Lakers chose to retire Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 in December 2017.
Sources: Multiple NBA players have begun informally retiring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s) as a tribute — with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie among them, changing from No. 8 to No. 26.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said that no one on his team will ever his numbers again.
With the sudden and tragic loss of Bryant earlier this week, some believe that the numbers should get similar treatment to what Jackie Robinson (No. 42) has in the MLB and what Wayne Gretzky (No. 99) has in the NHL with a league-wide mandate.
While no such decree has become official, several players in the NBA have taken matters into their own hands. Below are each of those to have made such a decision, which helps illustrate just how wide-spread his impact on the game was. We will continue to update this post as more news will become available.
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did.
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did. When the superstar basketball player tore his Achilles tendon, he reportedly became obsessed with the story of Achilles from the Trojan War. Bryant, a legendary warrior in his own right and in his daily mentality, was certainly mythological in each and every sense in his accomplishments during his time on this Earth.
Numerology, the belief that numbers have an almost supernatural impact on life, often plays a large role in myth. It is one of the reasons why teams retire certain numbers for their best players; the Lakers chose to retire Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 in December 2017.
Sources: Multiple NBA players have begun informally retiring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s) as a tribute — with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie among them, changing from No. 8 to No. 26.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said that no one on his team will ever his numbers again.
With the sudden and tragic loss of Bryant earlier this week, some believe that the numbers should get similar treatment to what Jackie Robinson (No. 42) has in the MLB and what Wayne Gretzky (No. 99) has in the NHL with a league-wide mandate.
While no such decree has become official, several players in the NBA have taken matters into their own hands. Below are each of those to have made such a decision, which helps illustrate just how wide-spread his impact on the game was. We will continue to update this post as more news will become available.
SPENCER DINWIDDIE, BROOKLYN NETS
(Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 26
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie grew up in Los Angeles, Calif. and has spoken about his deep love for Bryant. Before switching to his own brand of sneakers (K8IROS), he wore the Kobe AD Mid shoes when he played.
The defending winner of the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge recently spoke about why he changed his number as well as his recent experience chatting with Bryant in Brooklyn (via NBA.com):
“He was everything to a lot of kids and I was one of them … “I met Kobe several times, exchange pleasantries and text messages and things and, maybe this is a little bit over-exaggerated but I felt like this was the first time he was looking at me as the basketball player Spencer, you know what I mean? Briefly, told you guys how much he meant to all the people where I’m from and for him to tell me that in his book I’m an All-Star and stuff like that, talk about a popularity contest before and you don’t win things like that when you’re me, so for him to say that, I didn’t need to be selected anymore, because I was an All-Star, you feel me, it’s not just like my family, it was the guy.”
When The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that several players around the league would change their jersey number, Dinwiddie’s was the first and only name listed.
Dinwiddie has offered to pay for the first 260 people who want their apparel switched from No. 8 to No. 26 as a bit of a thank you for the support.
TERRENCE ROSS, ORLANDO MAGIC
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Change: No. 8 to No. 31
While he went to high school in Portland, Ore., Ross was born in Long Beach, Calif. near Los Angeles.
The Orlando wing spoke about his memories of Bryant during a recent interview (via The Guardian):
“It was my rookie year. We played him in L.A. I didn’t play that game but it was kind of like a front seat to the Lakers show. He killed us, he killed us bad. He hit a couple threes in clutch moments, he dunked to take it into overtime so I was like, “This is like vintage Kobe. And I remember my mom was sitting courtside and she was looking me the whole time, like, ‘This is bad for ‘y’all’. But it was fun, I enjoyed it.”
Ross, who had only just switched to No. 8 before this season began, will once again sport No. 31 on the court.
After leaving his sneaker deal with Li-Ning in China, he started wearing the Nike Kobe AD Mid sneakers.
ZHAIRE SMITH, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 5
Philadelphia 76ers wing Zhaire Smith was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He recently told reporters that he wanted to wear No. 2 while in the NBA because that is what he wore at Texas Tech, though that was retired by the Sixers to honor Moses Malone.
Instead, he confirmed that he chose No. 8 because that was what Bryant wore in the NBA. Smith said he used some of the wild stories about Bryant’s work ethic to inspire him (via NBC Sports):
“I think I heard one of his stories where he was in the gym since 6 a.m., went home, came back. I tried to do that for one day but my body was dead, so I never did that again.”
He wore No. 7 in his first game after Bryant’s death but will switch to No. 5 for the remainder of the season.
Smith had a custom jersey that had the Philadelphia 76ers name on the front with the last name “Bryant” and the No. 8 sported on the back. He said that he will one day use that as the centerpiece of his man cave.
JAHLIL OKAFOR, NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to TBD
New Orleans Pelicans big man Jahlil Okafor will reportedly no longer wear No. 8 but has not yet decided what the new number will be. Okafor wore No. 22 in high school and No. 15 when he played at Duke. He also wore No. 4 during his brief tenure with the Nets. While he is a big man, he has rocked the Nike Kobe AD NXT 360 kicks on the court.
MOE HARKLESS, LA CLIPPERS
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 11
The Clippers forward is one of Bryant’s many superfans across the league. He once slept in a locker room “to see Kobe practice” and has worn Bryant’s line of sneakers for several seasons. When he was drafted, he told reporters that he was looking forward to guarding Bryant.
QUINN COOK, LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Change: No. 2 to No. 28
The guard has said that his late father Ted Cook, who passed away when Quinn was just fourteen years old, was the biggest Lakers fan he had ever met.
“I can tell you every Laker thing since I’ve been living. I watched every game, every playoffs every championship, so like I was telling my brother last night, it’s still surreal coming in here and you see all these legendary numbers, you see all the trophies, you see the years that they won it and it’s just more motivation to try and get one this year.”
Cook did not wear No. 8 or No. 24 but told Shams Charania that he no longer felt comfortable wearing his number because of its ties to Bryant’s daughter, who also perished in the terrible crash. He said that “it’s hers” and should be retired.
The former NCAA (2015) and NBA (2018) champion was spotted mourning the loss of Bryant outside Staples Center earlier this week.
MARKIEFF MORRIS, DETROIT PISTONS
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 88
Last year, Morris tweeted that Bryant deserved a spot as one of the “Top 3” players of all-time. He has previously sported the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro shoes on the court. During his first NBA game after the terrible tragedy that involved Bryant, Morris wrote “Mamba Forever” and “RIP 8/24” on his Nike sneakers.
ALEC BURKS, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 20
Back in 2014, NBA wing Alec Burks completed a nasty behind-the-back crossover when guarded by Bryant. To this day, it has been one of the most memorable moments of his career. Burks will tribute Bryant by changing his number from No. 8 to No. 20.
NOTE: This story will be updated as more players make the decision to change their jersey number.
After colliding with Luka Doncic, D’Angelo Russell is expected to miss his third straight game with a shoulder injury, this time against the Detroit Pistons.
Two games later, the Warriors have looked more like the team their 9-27 record reflects.
Although the team is still without both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, in December, Steve Kerr had a reasonably deep rotation for one of the first times all season. Again, the injury bug found its way back into the Warriors locker room.
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported D’Angelo Russell (right shoulder contusion) and Kevon Looney (abdominal soreness are still ruled out for the Warriors’ first game of the new year in the Chase Center against the Detroit Pistons.
D’Angelo Russell and Kevon Looney still ruled out for Warriors home game tonight vs Pistons. Willie Cauley-Stein listed as questionable. Jordan Poole, who has been shooting it well on assignment in G-League, expected to be available.
Detroit will be Russell’s third straight game he’s been held out since colliding with Luka Doncic of the Mavericks. Russell was down on the floor for a significant amount of time after running into Doncic but quickly returned to the game after a short trip to the locker room.
Russell played out the last minutes against the Mavericks; however, the All-Star guard hasn’t been able to suit up for Golden State as the calendar has turned to 2020.
Along with Russell, hobbled big man, Looney is scheduled to miss game number 22 on the season. The UCLA product has dealt with a complicated neuropathy injury and is now dealing with left abdominal soreness. Golden State has been patient with Looney’s injuries as they signed him to a three-year contract worth $15 million over the offseason.
After joining Russell and Looney on the bench for the previous two games, Willie Cauley-Stein is listed as questionable against the Pistons. Cauley-Stein has been dealing with an illness that’s been making its way through the Warriors’ clubhouse.
Although Golden State is expected to be understaffed when Detroit makes its first-ever appearance in Chase Center, the Warriors still have a chance for victory, as the Pistons are dealing with their share of injuries as well.
Rod Beard of The Detroit News reported Blake Griffin (knee), Luke Kennard (knee) and Markieff Morris (foot sprain) are all listed as out on the Detroit injury report.
#Pistons Blake Griffin, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Markieff Morris and Khyri Thomas are still OUT for Saturday at #Warriors.
Andre Drummond is (illness) not listed on the injury report.#DFS
Without Russell over the past two games, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III have led the Warriors in scoring. Burks has been one of Golden State’s primary offensive initiators without Russell. Burks has started the past two games while Russell’s been on the bench, scoring 35 total points on 48 % shooting from the field. Burks also added five 3-pointers on six attempts in his last two contests.
Alongside Burks, Robinson III has tallied 41 combined points on an efficient 54.8 % from the field. The former Michigan Wolverine is averaging nearly 36 minutes per game over the last two games, shooting 50 % from beyond the arc, while grabbing nine total boards.
If the injury report doesn’t change by the time things tip-off between the Warriors and the Pistons, expect Kerr to lean heavily on his swingman duo of Burks and Robinson III.
