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Gary Washburn on Jayson Tatum recruiting Damian Lillard: They're communicating
Gary Washburn on Jayson Tatum recruiting Damian Lillard: I just was told that they're communicating and Tatum is recruiting. I mean, Tatum is the face of the franchise. So, yeah, you're told he's recruiting. I don't know if they're like FaceTiming every day or they're on Snapchat and sharing videos and you know, ‘look at my uh rehab video. I'm swimming. Yeah, I'm swimming. What about you? What are you up to, Dame?’ Like, I don't know if it's that deep but they are communicating and I think we all know Tatum's going to be here for a long time and I think that the players who have come to Boston, from Kevin Garnett to Ray Allen to Isaiah Thomas, even our friend Marcus Morris, guys who we traditionally thought might not like it here ended up really liking it in Boston and didn't want to leave, all the way now to Jrue Holiday.
Marcus Morris: Kristaps Porzingis is not a Celtic. He doesn’t embody what they need from that position
Marcus Morris: "Uh, I don’t think they need major changes. I’m going to be candid, because I’m on this media side now—Porzingis is not a Celtic. Porzingis doesn’t embody what they need from that position. That’s not a knock to him. I know he has injuries. But I think you definitely dangle him and see what you can get. I don’t think you can get that much, to be honest, the way the league is going. He’s more of a salary redump at this point—maybe just a way to pick up some other guys.
Marcus Morris: People say it all the time: ‘skinny Luka,’ or ‘in-shape Luka,’ but he scores with weight, without weight — no matter what. He went to the championship last year looking the exact same. It’s more about perception, media narratives, and what the Lakers want to hype up because they’re a big market. But honestly, Luka’s not going to lose weight during the season. That’s when it matters. In the summer, you’ve got your chef, your regimen, no stress, you’re at home, and the weight comes off fast. The real issue is hitting cities at 3 AM, being hungry after games, and trying to keep the weight off. That’s the real challenge for Luka — not the offseason."
Marcus Morris on Daryl Morey: ‘He hasn't failed them as far as getting names, getting the buzz going, as I would say. The Sixers with James Harden were a game away from getting to where they wanted to be at, right? Like, getting to the Eastern Conference Finals. And that was a really good team. The knock I have on Daryl Morey is the consistency of a president—keeping a core together, making sure guys get their money. It's not just like a circus. Like, when I say circus, you're bringing in different acts. You're not even allowing certain acts to actually gel.‘
GY: That was my situation. I had Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes, and Al Horford in front of me. Those guys have been around in the league for so long and they’re experienced players. I couldn’t take it the wrong way, saying, “Oh, I should have been in front of him.” No, that’s not true. I was really just hoping that the situation could be a little bit different, maybe that they can use the bench a little bit more, playing me and a couple of the guys that were there. It was like this. And then, I played through it. And even though I was not with Boston anymore, I learned so much from that season. And it helped me for the second part of my career after that. It really pushed me. It really, like, I had that mentality of loving that basketball. Because I know I love basketball. But if you’re in a situation that you don’t play, it’s hard. I missed it. And I was like, you know what? I want to play now. I want to be somewhere where I always play, so I always try to pick the right situation now for me.
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Anthony Davis on current relationship with LeBron James: Ain't no change for me, it's a business
How has your relationship been with friend and former teammate LeBron James since the trade? Anthony Davis: Ain’t no change for me. It’s a business. People are saying that [James] knew [of the trade] because of the Marcus Morris [quote saying James knew] that comes out. [James] is saying he don’t. At this point, whether he knew or not or whoever knew, or it was quiet when [ESPN’s] Shams (Charana) dropped [the news], it doesn’t matter who knew. This s— happened. You can’t change like, ‘Oh, [James] didn’t know, well let’s change it.’ It’s no going back. But as far as our leadership, obviously, we were on the same team, so we talked all the time. But [the Lakers] are trying to make a push, we’re trying to make a push, so we don’t talk as much. But we still check in on each other. He texts me all the time. [James’ chief of staff] Randy [Mims] hit me. Actually, they both just hit me. Vando [Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt] did. We still talk to those guys. I’ve been with [James] the longest, six-and-a-half years. We’ve been really close, but nothing has changed. Obviously, we don’t talk hang like we used to just because of the teams and stuff. But I’m sure we will get together over this summer and try to figure it out.
Markieff's brother Marcus revealed this info on an episode of Kevin O'Connor's podcast on March 18. He explained James' stance. “The part about it I don't think a lot of people see is that ‘Kieff and Luka have a really good relationship. Like, a really good relationship,” Marcus said at the 7:32 mark. “So I think that they probably noticed that and they wanted Luka to feel better going to a new place where you have somebody who has been a teammate. Also Dorian Finney-Smith has been [Doncic's teammate]. Maxi Kleber. So I think that really helped. Also ‘Kieff played there, so the Lakers really wanted him to come. ‘Bron asked for him to come.”
Marcus Morris on Daryl Morey: I just don't trust him...he flips too many players in and out, he's trying to outsmart the game too much
Appearing on the latest episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show podcast, veteran forward Marcus Morris, who is currently a free agent, was asked by Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports about Daryl Morey‘s recent comments about using AI in Sixers decisions. The question prompted some pointed comments from Morris about the longtime NBA executive. “I don’t trust Daryl Morey. I just don’t trust him,” Morris said (Twitter video link). “I think he’s thinking too far ahead of the way basketball needs to be played. He’s trying to do a whole new team. He’s trying to bring guys in, flipping them in and out, in and out, in and out. Does he even understand the dynamic of being in Philadelphia (and) what guys you need to play in Philadelphia?”
“… You tell my guy (James Harden) that you’re gonna do something for him, a guy that you brought from all these teams, and then you don’t. Like, did AI tell him not to pay James Harden this amount of money? Does the AI tell him to go get Paul George, hire Nick Nurse? “Does AI tell you to get the guy from Miami, Caleb Martin, because he played well in the Boston series? He can’t shoot the ball. You got three dominant guys that need the ball in their hands. Why is that the first guy that you go get? How did you come up with picking a team? Why do you want to start a brand-new team and try to win a championship? I haven’t seen any team that has 10 new guys be really good the following year. I don’t even know if any team has ever done that. “I’m just not a fan of how he goes about choosing players and flipping players in and out. It’s kind of like he’s trying to outsmart the game too much.”
Marcus Morris: Lakers can get by OKC and win West
Marcus Morris: ‘I’m going to go with the Lakers. Whenever you have LeBron James and Luka Doncic as your primary ball handlers, and Austin Reaves as the third option, I love that because now you can put the ball in each of those guys’ hands. I said this to you earlier, I felt this Anthony Davis was in LeBron's way because LeBron's really a four now, and that's the position that Anthony Davis wanted to play, he's always on the box he wasn't really stretching the three that well, now you add another guard, not even just another guard, let's just make that clear, you have a top five player that can get it from anywhere, and he's a matchup nightmare. When 77 walk in the building, OKC, Minnesota, Phoenix, Clippers, they dread seeing him. And now he got No. 23 on his back with him and what does that equal to? 100.’
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They can use Shamet’s spot to sign another veteran player, such as free agents Marcus Morris Sr., Lonnie Walker IV or others. Walker, who played for the Nets last season, was waived Saturday by the Celtics.
Law Murray: This is the second offseason in a row that Clippers have had a situation with a veteran contract year forward in the preseason Last year, Marcus Morris Sr. was with team but did not play in a game or make road trip to Utah prior to trade that brought Tucker to LA
Marcus Morris declined to join Knicks on camp deal
James Edwards III: Marcus Morris opted against re-joining Knicks on a camp deal, per sources, after he was waived due to financial implications of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Morris became unlikely to make the Knicks roster. He is now a free agent and aiming to join a team before the NBA season.
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