The Celtics might see a way more acquainted face this season, this time with a first-division rival. The Knicks introduced they’ve signed veteran ahead Marcus Morris to a non-guaranteed contract for Exhibit 9 coaching camp on Sunday evening. This can be his second stint in New York after enjoying the primary half of the 2019-20 season within the Huge Apple earlier than being traded to the Clippers.
The 35-year-old ahead will attempt to earn a spot on the Knicks’ bench as a sharpshooter. The staff already has 14 gamers below assured contracts, but additionally signed veteran guard Landry Shamet to a non-guaranteed deal final week. Morris will compete with Shamet in addition to ahead Chuma Okeke for a last spot on the Knicks’ bench as they attempt to problem the Celtics.
Morris performed within the NBA final season with three totally different groups. The Clippers traded him to the 76ers in December as a part of the blockbuster James Harden deal. Morris was once more traded on the commerce deadline to the Spurs in a three-team deal that introduced Buddy Hield to Philadelphia. San Antonio launched Morris and he then signed with the Cavs in March and performed a major position with the staff as a backup throughout their run to the Japanese Convention semifinals as accidents flared. Morris scored 25 factors towards Boston whereas hitting 5 three-pointers in Recreation 5 in an admirable effort amid the Celtics’ series-clinching victory. Morris spent two years in Boston after being acquired through commerce in the summertime of 2017 earlier than the staff determined to let him depart in free company in 2018.
Total, Morris averaged 6.4 factors, 2.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per recreation final 12 months whereas taking pictures 40.3 % from three-point vary with the 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. Nevertheless, his lack of pace and defensive potential actually restricted his market the place he selected to take a non-guaranteed contract with the Knicks.
Morris will not have the harm safety of an Exhibit 9 contract as he competes for a roster spot in coaching camp, however he might present helpful cap house for the Knicks’ second unit with a powerful exhibiting throughout coaching camp. The staff clinched this offseason after buying Mikal Bridges from the Nets, however there aren’t many dependable exterior shooters within the second-unit entrance courtroom. Morris might find yourself being an inexpensive possibility for Tom Thibodeau on that entrance as New York tries to maintain tempo with the Celtics’ firepower this season.
