L.A. Clippers have their biggest free-agent priorities.
Free agent Marcus Morris has agreed to a 64 64 million, four-year deal to return to the Clippers, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wozniacki.
The deal comes after Montreal Herrell left the Clippers to agree a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Free agent Patrick Patterson is also returning the Clippers on a one-year deal, Excel Sports management agent Sam Goldfeeder told Wozniacki.
Morris played only 19 regular-season games and 13 postseason games for the Clippers, taking a 3-1 lead and losing to Denver in the second round to reduce their title goal. But Morris started every game he played and became the main contributor, scoring in double figures in nine playoff games.
While shooting 47.5% from the 3-point range in Play-Fum, the 6-foot-8 Morris gave the Clippers an average of 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds on their frontcourt.
The Clippers beat other teams to compete in the season with the New York Knicks picking a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round swap option, and a 2021 second-round pick from Detroit. They sent guard Jerome Robinson to Washington as part of a three-team deal for Morris.
Morris was a priority to get into free agency, but after Harrell left, the Clippers really needed Morris’ versatility to play at the center and defend frontcourt players large and small. Morris also brings his much-needed trademark physique, although he sometimes draws a finger, such as when he caused controversy during the first round against Dallas. During Game 5 he put his foot on Luka Donsic’s left ankle and refused to try to injure Donsic, who took the exception while playing with a sprained ankle. Morris was also knocked out in Game 6 after a notorious foul on Donetsk. Pew again denied that he was trying to harm Donsick.
Morris, 31, has played with six teams and had a career season with the Knicks before trading the Clippers. He has a career-high 19.6 points and 43.9% 3-point shooting in the top 19 games with New York.
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