NBA Rumor: Marcus Morris Trade?
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Kuzma off the table for Marcus Morris
Andrew Greif: Clippers rookies Terance Mann and Mfiondu Kabengele are indeed two players who have been involved in discussions between LAC and NYK, a source told @latimessports, as @Shams Charania first noted.
Clippers closing in on Marcus Morris?
Jovan Buha: Landry Shamet is off the table in trade discussions for Marcus Morris, league sources tell @TheAthleticLA.
Progress made on Marcus Morris to Clippers
Ian Begley: Knicks have made some progress with Clippers on Marcus Morris deal since this morning, per SNY sources. There’s still no indication that LAC would include Landry Shamet in the real.
Chris Haynes: Yahoo Sources: Los Angeles Clippers remain in hot pursuit of New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris.
Knicks targeting Kyle Kuzma
Frank Isola: Knicks trying to land Kyle Kuzma in a deal that would include Marcus Morris. D’Angelo Russell, who was a tidy minus-48 vs. Brooklyn last night, also remains a target.
Maybe it’s the West Coast bias speaking here from this California-based scribe, but the Lakers vs. Clippers component of this trade deadline is on my short list of things to watch before the deadline. Not only are each of these teams out there searching for that one player who could push them over the top as title contenders, but also they’re well aware that keeping good players away from their Staples Center rival comes with a benefit too. To that end, a source confirmed that both teams are in pursuit of New York’s Marcus Morris. The Knicks small forward who is averaging 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds is on an expiring contract and is widely expected to be traded. The Knicks, the source said, want the Clippers’ Landry Shamet if they’re going to go in that direction with a deal.
According to an NBA source, Knicks interim president Scott Perry has several proposed offers on the table — with the Lakers and Clippers waging their own intercity battle to nab the veteran two-way forward.
To that end, a source confirmed that both [Los Angeles] teams are in pursuit of New York’s Marcus Morris. The Knicks small forward who is averaging 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds is on an expiring contract and is widely expected to be traded. The Knicks, the source said, want the Clippers’ Landry Shamet if they’re going to go in that direction with a deal.
Ian Begley: On Knicks/Clippers and Marcus Morris, NYK certainly has interest in Landry Shamet as part of package in return for Morris but Clippers are unwilling to part with him, per sources. NY Post first reported Knicks targeting Shamet in a Morris deal.
Michael Gallagher: Woj says Landry Shamet is off limits in a trade.
Danny Green involved in Marcus Morris trade?
Brad Turner: 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.
Lakers, Clippers competing for Marcus Morris
Tomer Azarly: ESPN’s Woj – “It’s become increasingly likely that Marcus Morris will be elsewhere at the trade deadline. There’s a significant marketplace for him. Both Clippers, Lakers are competing for him. Not just the opportunity acquire him, but to keep him away from your rival.”
Mills negotiated with teams on trades up until Monday, according to the source, and several packages are in place for acting Knicks president Scott Perry with which to work. Trading Marcus Morris for a collection of assets and dealing with Golden State for point guard D’Angelo Russell are still on the table, according to the source.
Marcus Morris on the move?
Marc Stein: Among the key points of emphasis in the final 24 hours before the NBA trade deadline: The Knicks know they can move Marcus Morris — it appears to be only a matter of where now — and we await the Clippers’ long-awaited move(s)
The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Thursday — 4 ¹/₂ hours before the Knicks return to the court at the Garden against the Magic. “Yeah, I’m aware of that part,’’ Morris said when asked if Monday could have been his last game as a Knick. “I’ve said it since the day I stepped here, I want to be with the Knicks. It’s not my call. We’re getting to the deadline. Me personally, I love being here and I want to continue to be here.”
Sources indicated several contenders have expressed interest. The Clippers attempted to sign him to a long-term deal this summer and could use him. So could the Sixers, his hometown team.
Shams Charania: Several contenders expressing interest in Knicks’ Marcus Morris.
Marcus Morris would rather stay a Knick
Morris, 30, represents a conundrum for New York before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Knicks could recoup a first-round pick for Morris, who is on an expiring contract, but also want to re-sign him in free agency. Morris, according to sources, would prefer to remain with the Knicks past the deadline and has told people he expects the team to offer a lucrative multi-year deal from New York in the summer.
Brian Dulik: #Knicks C Marcus Morris on trade deadline: “I know how this business goes. It’s hard to ignore — I’d be lying if I said I did — but you have to be professional about it. I tell the young guys, even if you do go elsewhere, you’re still playing in the best league in the world.”
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Knicks have remained enthusiastic about idea of signing Marcus Morris to a new deal this summer, but as trade offers become richer in assets this week, they’ll stay open to idea of moving him. Many contenders have interest in him.
The problem has been finding anyone worth that package. Sources say the Knicks seem hell-bent on keeping Marcus Morris Sr. — someone the Clippers coveted in free agency.
As noted earlier, the Knicks see Charlotte’s Malik Monk as a potential trade target — teams believe that the Knicks and Marcus Morris have strong mutual interest in Morris signing with New York in free agency this summer; this will impact Morris’ value to teams interested in trading for him.
Morris has been both publicly and privately adamant about his desire to stay with the Knicks. It’s a preference rooted in comfort and business. According to sources, the 30-year-old enjoys living within a short distance of family in Philadelphia and believes he’ll secure a lucrative multi-year contract in the summer with the Knicks.
Tthe Knicks can trade, recoup assets and STILL sign Morris free agency — so why not do it? Under that scenario, Morris could vie for a title with a contender and return to New York next season. But again, multiple sources have reiterated Morris has told people he prefers staying with the Knicks over going to a contender.
Clippers still interested in Marcus Morris
The Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams that have registered interest in Morris recently, sources say. Because Morris is on a one-year contract and the Knicks are a rebuilding team, there’s a sentiment from some fans on social media that New York should trade Morris in exchange for that first-round pick.
The Knicks are probably going to get plenty of calls from teams interested in Marcus Morris between now and next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. You would expect them to listen to any offers on Morris, because that’s what any team would do in their situation. But it’s worth noting that at least one team in touch with the Knicks recently was left with the impression that Morris and New York have strong mutual interest in reaching an agreement in free agency this summer, per SNY sources.
Marcus Morris interested in re-signing with Knicks
One team in touch with the Knicks recently was left with the impression that Morris and New York have strong mutual interest in reaching an agreement in free agency this summer, per SNY sources.
A few months ago, several NBA executives speculated that Morris could land a late first-round pick in a trade. There’s no reason to believe Morris’ trade value has slipped since then. He’s averaging 19 points per game and shooting 44 percent from the floor. He seems like the kind of player who can add depth to a contending team. The Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams that have registered interest in Morris recently, sources say.
Multiple contenders continue to monitor the Marcus Morris situation with the hope that New York considers moving the veteran. As SNY previously reported, there are people in the Knick organization who see Morris as an important part of the club’s future and would like to re-sign him.
The problem for the Knicks and Miller is that Morris has proved valuable in the effort to turn around the fortunes of a franchise that won only 17 games last season. The 11-30 mark the Knicks took into the halfway point of the season did little to change the perception around the NBA. If those eight games in which Morris was sidelined are an indication, losing him would have them struggling to reach last season’s 17 victories. Asked if he has pleaded his case to keep Morris in town past the Feb. 6 trade deadline, Miler said with a smile, “I think obviously he’s valued by our organization.”
The Clippers have expressed interest in at least two power forwards already: Chicago’s Thaddeus Young and the Knicks’ Marcus Morris. According to sources, the team believes it has the assets on hand to make a deal for Morris if it so chooses but will continue to investigate other potential deals.
As the Knicks consider whether to deal Morris, who will be a free agent again this July, ahead of February’s trade deadline, they must also weigh whether they want to keep him long-term and what that would cost. Morris has professed his desire to stay with the franchise beyond the deadline and this summer. “I love our team,” he said. “I love our future. I just want to be a part of helping our young guys grow and grow out to be the great players they’re gonna be.” “That was the reason why I made the decision to come here, going back on the decisions I made, along with a lot of other things, but I’m here. I enjoy this organization. I enjoy the players they got here and I want to be here long-term.”
Opposing scouts and executives believe the Knicks might be able to get a late first-round pick for Morris if they decide to trade him — though it’s far from a consensus — or they could net a young player, maybe with second-round picks attached. He would be a boon for a playoff team in need of size on the perimeter, shooting and defense. The Knicks could also decide to keep him in hopes of building stability for their young roster and maximizing this season. If Morris wants to stay in New York long-term, he could re-sign with them in the offseason even if he does get traded.
When asked if he took the Knicks’ offer because he wanted to use this season to prove he should get a contract worth more than $41 million, Morris said he saw it as a risk worth taking. “I just bet on myself,” he said. “I came with the Knicks, I’d seen a great opportunity, I’d seen a great group of guys, and I wanted to bet on myself on an opportunity where I can showcase what I really can do and I thought that New York would be the perfect place for me to come.”
Another factor in any Morris deal? Some members of the Knicks organization believe Morris has long-term value with the club, SNY sources say. They have been impressed by his play and his leadership during the season and see him as a valuable player on the team they’re hoping to rebuild.
Knicks keeping Marcus Morris?
Knicks forward Marcus Morris Sr. is a hot name around league circles for so many reasons, but the Knicks have no plans on trading him, a source told Yahoo Sports.
The Knicks need talent, proven talent, to go with their young pieces. Morris is respected in the locker room, and a bright spot on the floor in a season that’s just starting to turn around after the early turmoil surrounding former coach David Fizdale.
L.A. teams eyeing Marcus Morris?
Morris is one of the most valuable veterans on the trade market at the moment. He’s shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc and on a one-year deal. The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly keeping an eye on Morris. Opposing execs expect both Los Angeles teams to monitor the market for Morris as well.
Opposing teams expect other contenders like the Clippers and Lakers to feel out the market for Morris as well. The issue for the Knicks will be matching salaries, as Morris is making $15 million this season. Another factor in any Morris deal? Some members of the Knicks organization believe Morris has long-term value with the club, SNY sources say. They have been impressed by his play and his leadership during the season and see him as a valuable player in the team they’re hoping to rebuild.
Sixers interested in Marcus Morris
According to a source, the 76ers also have some interest in Morris as a solid two-way forward bench piece. Morris’ hometown team is on a championship-or-bust mission. Perhaps that would pique Morris’ interest more than L.A. The “Trust The Process” Sixers are forever loaded with draft picks. Though they don’t have a first-rounder, the Sixers possess four 2020 second-round picks.
When told of the Clippers’ reported interest, Morris joked Friday that maybe it is for his twin brother, Markieff. Turning serious, Morris said: “I’m a vet in this game. That s–t doesn’t bother me anymore. Rumors are rumors. Look, I told you before I’m in New York and love being here. I’m excited to help to turn this around. I’m not paying that any mind. I’m focused on what we got going on in this locker room.’’
Any deal for the hot-shooting Morris likely would have to include a third team to absorb the contract numbers. The Hawks are under the salary cap and could be a facilitator in multiple deals. According to an NBA executive, the two shooting guards mostly on the outs in the Knicks’ rotation, Allonzo Trier and Wayne Ellington, have value and perhaps could net a distant-future second-rounder. Ellington surprisingly played five minutes at Phoenix, perhaps as a showcase.
Morris has expressed publicly and privately his desire to stay loyal with the Knicks, and the team is said to prefer to keep him. Bertans will be a free agent at the end of the season and team executives expect him to command a lucrative multiyear contract. There has been no shortage of interest from teams in regards to a trade or acquiring him unrestricted free agency, and some teams believe it is sensible for Washington to move him. The Wizards have maintained that they plan to keep Bertans and retain him in July.
With that in mind, we talked to a three teams about how they value Marcus Morris, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Knicks over the summer after reneging on his agreement with the Spurs. The consensus among those teams — not all contenders — was that Morris could return a first-round pick, depending on the following factors: Does the team have championship aspirations and believe Morris helps push them toward that goal? Does the team see value at the back end of the first round of the draft? If not, the club would be willing to give up a first-round pick for Morris.
“Teams love his leadership and he’s been shooting incredibly well,” a representative for one Eastern Conference team said. “You can easily see them getting a late first-round pick for him if that team feels Marcus pushes them over the top.”
“[The Clippers] thought they had Marcus Morris in July,” said Wojnarowski. “That’s a player they had great interest with, that they saw who would fit with Paul George and with Kawhi Leonard. So, to see them revisit that is certainly plausible.” Lowe added: “I would expect that package to be out there.”
The market for Morris, according to opposing scouts and execs, is probably a team that believes his addition could help push them further into the playoffs. Morris is likely the only player on the Knicks who could get dealt this season who could get a first-round pick back in return, those sources believe. The Knicks could also ask for a young player with upside. It’s not unanimous, though, that the Knicks would definitely get a first-rounder back for Morris, those scouts and executives say. Drawing a first-round pick is difficult. Last season it was only done by teams willing to take on bad contracts to free up cap space ahead of free agency — something the Knicks were unwilling to do this summer and may not be willing to do now either — and by the Knicks when they traded Porzingis.
With the Dec. 15 trade marker approaching — the date players signed in the offseason are first eligible to be traded — Marcus Morris’ trade value is trending upward. The Knicks believe they can garner a late first-round pick for the 30-year-old Morris from a playoff contender if they decide to trade him.
In a mild surprise, Morris is dead-set against being on the move. Remember, Morris had to break a verbal agreement with one of the NBA’s model, playoff-savvy franchises, the Spurs, to sign a one-year, $15 million deal with the moribund Knicks. Sources believed a chance to be close to his North Philly roots was a big factor in not wanting to be in Texas.
Late Wednesday, following the Knicks’ snapping their 10-game skid in San Francisco, Morris was asked point-blank if he has a yen to head to a club with stronger playoff designs. Not a chance, Morris said. “I’m aware of that,” Morris said of the potential of being dealt. “It’s part of the game, but like I said in the beginning, I love being in New York, win, lose or draw. I’m here to try and help turn this thing around. I’m not really looking to get traded, that’s just my personal opinion.
Gary Washburn: Marcus Morris will be in Boston tomorrow to take his physical. #Celtics
Rod Beard: #Pistons Stanley Johnson on Marcus Morris: “Marcus was helpful to me in my 2 years here. He’s a great player and an even better teammate.”
Andre Drummond: Sad to see my guy @Marcus Morris go. Good luck in Boston, you guys got yourself a hell of a player!
A. Sherrod Blakely: This is why @Celtics resisted S+T w/Utah for Crowder. Bos always felt they could swing another deal and get cap relief+rotation player.
Rod Beard: #Pistons SVG coveted Marcus Morris (and his contract). Seems like something bigger is coming if he’s willing to part with it.
Shams Charania: Sources: Detroit sending forward Marcus Morris to Boston for guard Avery Bradley.
Jeff Goodman: Celtics trading Avery Bradley and a second-round pick to Detroit for Marcus Morris, source told ESPN.
Tim Bontemps: Trading Avery Bradley to Detroit means two things: max space for Gordon Hayward & KCP almost certainly won’t be back with the Pistons.
“That’s what I’m saying – this stuff is crazy,” Van Gundy said of media reports. “And I’m not going to be the guy to step up and say, ‘No, no, no. None of these guys are available.’ Because I’m not lying to anybody. “Here’s the thing: who do you think people call about? Are interested in? Your best players? Yeah. That’s who people call about. Yes, there’s always discussions about Reggie and Andre (Drummond) and Marcus (Morris) and Tobias (Harris) and Stanley (Johnson) and Jon Leuer. Always, yes. People call about them. There’s discussions about those guys on a daily basis. That’s who people call about. They are interested in those guys. So yes, those discussions take place all the time.”
September 16, 2021 | 8:36 pm EDT Update
Jimmer Fredette, Noah Vonleh to Shanghai Sharks
Keith Smith: The Shanghai Sharks have signed former NBAers Jimmer Fredette and Noah Vonleh. This will be Fredette’s 5th season with Shanghai. He last played in the NBA in 2019 with the Phoenix Suns. Vonleh was briefly with the Brooklyn Nets last season. This is his first season with Shanghai.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in Greece for a meeting with the country’s prime minister Thursday and a special ceremony to bestow Greek citizenship on his mother Veronica and younger brother Alex. Antetokounmpo, who led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship in July, attended the ceremony at the official residence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The 26-year-old Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, the son of Nigerian immigrants. He was granted Greek citizenship in 2013, allowing him to travel to the United States and join the Bucks later that year.
“We always felt Greek, but now we have an official stamp and we are happy,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the ceremony. “Alex and my mom are Greek citizens now.” Antetokounmpo also traveled to Greece in August with his brother Thanassis, carrying the Larry O’Brien NBA championship trophy. He took the trophy to the ancient Acropolis in Athens to celebrate with members of his family.
September 16, 2021 | 8:07 pm EDT Update
Salah Mejri headed to Kuwait
Kuwaiti team Al-Jahra announced the signing of former NBA center Salah Mejri for next season.
Keith Smith: Cleaning up some loose ends on TPEs for the Boston Celtics… The Celtics used the Daniel Theis $5M TPE to acquire Kris Dunn in the three-team deal with the Hawks and Kings. That leaves Boston with five current TPEs. Those TPEs and expiration dates are in the next tweet. 1/2
