OT: speculation: Frye for Markieff Morris

[jezzer45]

Also remember the bad raps sheed and zach randolph had before they matured

[OrlandO]

Also remember the bad raps sheed and zach randolph had before they matured

Nobody would care about Morris' rep, fit, contract, etc if he was looking like the next sheed or zbo. Easier to overlook or workaround any negatives when we're talking about all star level players. I don't see Morris as a potential all star, do you?

[BadMofoPimp]

I would pass.

This team has good chemistry and great guys. Morris might mature but right now, he is a head case. If The Magic acquire a power forward, it needs to be a rim protector or someone who can stretch the floor. At the moment, I feel Aaron Gordon is going to do a lot of things for The Magic.

BTW: Morris made a big mistake bypassing free agency and actually believing they would not trade his brother.

Personally I think the Magic need a versatile paint protector more than they need someone who notches blocks on their stat sheet. Team defense is super important in today's NBA and Morris is excellent at that. Here is a description of Morris in March of this year:

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2015/03/06/pay-attention-to-markieff-morris/

Morris’ main strength to the up-and-coming Suns team rests with his abilities on defense. While his base stats aren’t exactly eye-popping (0.5 BPG and 1.3 SPG in 31 minutes per game), the impact that he has on the team’s defense is massive. Per Basketball-Reference’s on/off numbers, the Suns defensive efficiency is nine points better per 100 possessions when Morris is on the court (103.8) compared to when he’s sitting (112.9). To put that in perspective, that defensive efficiency when he’s on the floor is more than a full point better than the league average (105.4).

While those on/off ratios are solid, they don’t tell the entire story of his defensive impact. In the same vein as other athletic frontcourt players, Morris has the size and quickness to be able to defend multiple positions. Sitting at 245 pounds, he’s definitely able to hold his own against some of the most powerful low-post threats. Per Synergy Sports Technology, opponents are averaging .783 PPP (points per possession) in post-ups against Morris, which is a better number than Marcin Gortat, Paul Millsap and Timofey Mozgov....Morris uses his quickness on the defensive end by how he defends against pick-and-rolls. While the sample size is limited (only 59 possessions), big man screeners in the pick-and-roll are averaging only .78 PPP against Morris. The 6’10 forward is able to do that by being agile enough to stick with the opponent while they’re cutting to the rim, no matter if they’re a wing or front-court player.

On the offensive end, he's not exactly a sharpshooting stretch four but rather more versatile player that can score from anywhere on the court and still shoots ok % from behind the arc (career .328)...he is a great fit with Payton and Oladipo

While Morris will never be mistaken for Amare Stoudemire, he’ll definitely be able to insert himself as an athletic forward in that same mold and can run with the likes of Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight.....Whether it would be transition or as a pick-and-roll screener, Morris stands as an extremely dangerous threat because of his aforementioned athleticism and his knack as a mid-range shooter.

Sign me up!!! Git er done, Henny!!!

[ezzzp]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-curious-case-of-markieff-morris/

Strange article from Zach Lowe in which he rips Morris - primarily using Hornacek's criticisms to judge him and much of what he is critical of is opposite to what nearly all scouting reports and media praised Morris for prior to the recent incidents.

What is even more odd is that he simultaneously hints at Morris being a big opportunity for someone...and in a roundabout (not to burn any contacts) kind of way, Lowe hints at Morris being a poor mans Draymond Green. A couple % points in 3pt shooting, more consistent focus on defense, and less off court knuckle-head-ed-ness seemingly being the $50 million dollar difference between a maxed 5yr/$82m player (D Green) and a 4yr/$32m player (M Morris).

That creates an opportunity for some smart team to leap into the bidding, take a shot on Morris at a slight discount, and see if it can unlock his potential as something more than a run-of-the-mill big man — all while taking on Year 1 of what could be an absurd contract

Morris could transform himself into a really good player for the modern, pace-and-space, switch-everything NBA, and he’s just starting a four-year, $32 million contract. In a league where contracts are short and starters will soon be earning almost $15 million on average, that deal is like gold bullion. There is not much risk in trumping a tepid trade market to take a shot on Morris.

[drsd]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-curious-case-of-markieff-morris/

Strange article from Zach Lowe in which he rips Morris - primarily using Hornacek's criticisms to judge him and much of what he is critical of is opposite to what nearly all scouting reports and media praised Morris for prior to the recent incidents.

If Orlando could get Morris for a future 2nd round pick, of course the team takes a chance on him. Whether Morris starts would be an interesting question.

Based on the logic of this article, Nicholson for Morris makes sense. That is also a big upgrade for Orlando.


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[jezzer45]

Also remember the bad raps sheed and zach randolph had before they matured

Nobody would care about Morris' rep, fit, contract, etc if he was looking like the next sheed or zbo. Easier to overlook or workaround any negatives when we're talking about all star level players. I don't see Morris as a potential all star, do you?

Not comparing players just character issues. No way near the talent but he could mature and leave all this bad mojo behind him

[T-Cat]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-curious-case-of-markieff-morris/

Strange article from Zach Lowe in which he rips Morris - primarily using Hornacek's criticisms to judge him and much of what he is critical of is opposite to what nearly all scouting reports and media praised Morris for prior to the recent incidents.

If Orlando could get Morris for a future 2nd round pick, of course the team takes a chance on him. Whether Morris starts would be an interesting question.

Based on the logic of this article, Nicholson for Morris makes sense. That is also a big upgrade for Orlando.


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http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=op3dwnp

We also send a future 1st round pick to Phoenix

[ezzzp]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=op3dwnp

We also send a future 1st round pick to Phoenix

Embid is way more of a risk, two foot surgeries and zero nba games played for a 7'r who relied on his mobility - no thanks. That isn't buying low - that's playing lottery odds.

Anyhow, Phoenix's desire for Frye isn't as high as Alex Kennedy suggested in his article related to Morris...at least from the fan perspective on their RealGM board. Its totally reasonable they don't want to saddle themselves with the remaining three years of Frye's contract. They'll get better offers.

Nicholson alone doubtfully has enough value to get Morris, even in a buy low scenario. He is a young starter on a cheap deal so it will cost something (not full value) but something. A package including a mix of two from Nicholson, Fournier or the future Laker 1st is probably their asking price from what Magic would let go (outside of Frye).