Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris has drawn interest from at least five teams — the New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls ahead of the 2019 free agency period. Charania also adds that Morris remains open to a return to the Celtics, as he eloquated after Boston was eliminated from the 2019 NBA Playoffs.
Celtics free agent Marcus Morris will have strong interest as a second-tier free agent, with teams such as the Knicks, Kings, Lakers, Clippers and Bulls expected to be in pursuit, league sources said. Morris, 29, had arguably his best all-around season, averaging 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and serving as a versatile scorer and defender either as a starter or reserve. League sources say Morris remains open-minded about returning to Boston, which wants to bring Morris back but has several summer priorities such as Kyrie Irving.
Morris, a gritty veteran combo forward, just completed the best season of his career for the Celtics and was a stable force throughout 2018-19. Averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, he also shot a career-high 44.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three while starting 53 games for Boston.
Defensively, Morris was impressive as well, using his unique blend of size, strength and speed to take the challenge of guarding the better forwards that Boston would face.
Thanks to his age, experience and fatherhood, Morris is also a mature and fiery player whose intangibles hold an important value for the team that signs him as well. Those traits may be the biggest reason why teams with a bevy of young players, like the Knicks, Kings, Lakers, Clippers and Bulls, have an interest in his services; if they don’t already have a culture that rewards players with his toughness, they want to have that type of culture-changing presence in their locker room.
