The Boston Celtics will have some competition if they hope to re-sign Marcus Morris when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
With Kyrie Irving destined for the Big Apple or Hollywood to join Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Boston Celtics now have to turn their attention to building around its young core of players, which means bringing back a player like Marcus Morris.
Coming off a season in which he averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, Morris started the 2018-19 NBA season as one of the few bright spots on the team. In fact, he found himself in the starting lineup for the majority of the season, leading with his hot shooting and tough attitude.
At times, Morris was critical of the way his team was playing, but at the same time passionate about their potential and understanding what it took to compete for an NBA championship.
Entering free agency, you better believe other teams around the league has taken notice to what Marcus Morris can bring to a team. Younger teams will look at his leadership. Teams in position to compete for championships will see him as a piece of the puzzle because of his long-range shooting, toughness and attitude.
In pursuit of a championship, Morris will certainly see what’s out there while expressing a desire to remain with the Boston Celtics.
Here are the top 5 destinations for Marcus Morris in free agency.
New York Knicks
If the New York Knicks fulfill their dream free-agency sweepstakes and land both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, a player like Marcus Morris would be the type of veteran the team needs to complete their roster.
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That was the thinking as the season ended.
However, like the weather in New England, things change quickly when it comes to the drama of the NBA. With Kyrie more favoring the other team in New York and Durant likely out for the season (even if he signs), the Knicks are looking for alternatives.
With their sights set on top free agents like DeMarcus Cousins and Julius Randle, Morris is still a player of interest for the Knicks.
Along with his toughness, Marcus Morris is the type of player who would succeed in New York. With the free agents named above, the Knicks would suddenly take a trip back into the 90s when players like Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason bullied opposing teams while shining in the lights of Madison Square Garden.
Of course, the money will entice Marcus Morris, but will he see championship appeal? Again, depends on what big free agent, if any, the team brings in.
Sacramento Kings
Would Marcus Morris go from one team led by a core of young players to another?
Basically, will the free agent veteran forward see appeal in joining a young team on the rise like the Sacramento Kings?
Depending on what other veterans are there, it’s quite possible.
As The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported at the start of June, the Kings are expected to have strong interest in Marcus Morris. With a young foundation of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles, the 29-year-old Morris would be a perfectly complimentary piece for a team valuing the type of veteran leadership Morris can provide.
Coming off a career season in which he averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, Morris would make the Kings an even more competitive team in 2019. But the question here is whether he wants to go backwards to help a young team continue to rise, or does he want to win now and play for a contender.
Nice fit as far as the role he would play, but maybe not the ideal situation for a player hungry for a ring.
Los Angeles Clippers
If Kawhi Leonard is heading to the Los Angeles Clippers, suddenly they are a team favored to come out of the Western Conference and therefore an appealing destination for Marcus Morris.
As the Clippers are expected to have interest once free agency begins, playing for a coach like Doc Rivers and a team as deep as the Clippers has to be appealing. There is also a chance he will be teammates once again with Al Horford, who is also rumored in connection with the Clippers.
With the Clippers looking to fill the void left by Wilson Chandler, a big wing like Marcus Morris would be an ideal fit along with his toughness and attitude.
There is also his history with playing LeBron James tough defensively. If Leonard does end up with the Clippers, the city of Los Angeles will have quite the rivalry brewing between their two teams.
With Anthony Davis playing alongside LeBron, Morris would be an intriguing player to throw in the mix of the inter-city NBA war.
Los Angeles Lakers
After winning the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, the Los Angeles Lakers go their player to team up with LeBron James but may not have enough cap space to add another superstar.
That’s where second-tier free agents like Marcus Morris comes in to play.
Now, take what I mentioned about Morris’s fit with the Clippers and flip it with the Lakers. Because of his role as a big wing, Morris could defend a player like Kawhi Leonard and give the Lakers some attitude off the bench, if he is not a starter.
As another team with championship aspirations, the Lakers are expected to target a veteran like Morris, especially if LeBron James wants him on his team. With the way the two have battled in the past, it’s a sure bet King James would want on his team.
In all, the Clippers are probably a better fit for Marcus Morris due to the coach and the players, but the veteran wing may see a chance to team up with LeBron and Anthony Davis as a more attractive option.
If he is looking to stick it to the Boston Celtics, that would be the ideal slap in the face.
Boston Celtics
Marcus Morris was certainly not the issue for the Boston Celtics during the 2018-19 NBA season.
In fact, he was one of the reasons the team didn’t start the season at an even more disappointing rate than they did. Playing his way into the starting lineup, Morris played with intensity and had no problem calling out his team and teammates for mediocre play.
We all remember the shoving incident with Jaylen Brown that further showcased something was going on with this team.
Still, due to his intensity and passion to win ball games, Marcus Morris is a veteran presence the Celtics would love to have on the team. While there are some other options the team has set as a priority in free agency, they do have Bird Rights when it comes to Morris.
So if he wants to stick around, like he says he does, both sides can and should find a way to make it work.
However, with Kyrie Irving basically out the door and Al Horford suddenly chasing rings elsewhere, the question is whether the veteran sharp shooter has had his own change of heart. If he has, it would be a loss for the Boston Celtics.
With stops in both Phoenix and Detroit in his career, it appeared he found a home and niche with Boston. Therefore, the Celtics are his primary destination.