The Los Angeles Lakers will look a lot different than they did last season after the incidental following fee they made, but there will be a handful of acquaintances, including Markiff Morris, who announced they will reunite with the Lakers on Monday. .
Morris did not join the team until the trade deadline in February, but it didn’t take long for him to get in or out of court. In the playoffs, Morris averaged 9.9 points per game while shooting behind the arc. He also gave the Lakers a little more stiffness on the protective glass.
Those things apparently made him a favorite of Anthony Davis, who, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, knew he wanted Morris back.Via Spectrum SportsNet):
“I think the market was really dry for (Morris) and some players, so in this case Markiff knew there was a better place for him with the Lakers, but how? There is a man named Anthony Davis who wanted him back. He wanted him back because he’s tough, because he plays defense, he hits, he can shoot all three, he can open the court and again he’s a versatile player. One thing the Lakers really liked and had success with, they are players who can play offense and play defense, and don’t mind being in a good team mate and locker room. “
The funny thing about Davis wanting Morris back is that Morris’ ability to make space on the floor makes him more attractive to Frank Vogel playing Davis in the center, something Davis prefers not to do. It’s also funny because Davis hasn’t yet technically re-signed with the Lakers, so he’s helping bring players back into the team for which he doesn’t even play. If it’s not a commitment, I don’t know what it is.
It’s hard to project where Morris will fit into Vogel’s rotation next season, as there are a lot of roster spots that need to be filled, but he’s aggressive even if he knocks down 3 points at the rate he did in the playoffs. Defensive end, it will definitely see plenty of floor.
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