Marcus Morris, the Clippers striker, visited the Garden for Sunday morning at the two-year anniversary of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Morris has now been added to the Porzingis trade analysis.
Thank you, Immanuel Quickley.
This was Morris’ first visit to the garden since West was awarded in February last year and comes as a bench player for the Clippers, supporting Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Morris was option no. 1 scoring during the 2019-20 Knicks disaster.
While Porzingis ‘Mavericks are in a dangerous landslide, Morris’ presence is another symbol that the Porzingis blockbuster two years ago is not a disaster, as previously reported.
With the season lost, the Knicks office debated vigorously whether to change Morris or keep him and try to re-sign him.
Apparently they made the right call, offering Morris to the Clippers for the 27th pick. It became the 25th choice and was transformed into Quickley. The feeling of a beginner has the organization wondering if they have their starting point in the future – if not now.
Knicks would not have had the maximum space to sign Morris in a one-year deal, worth 15 million dollars, in the summer of 2019, without trading Porzingis.
The fact that the narrative is changing is amazing, given the failures of goalie Dennis Smith Jr., whom the Knicks decided to put in the G-League ball, with coach Tom Thibodeau, who is currently of no use to the 2017 Mavericks.
However, even with Smith’s demise, the trade looks much better. Porzingis’ Mavericks lost five in a row and eight of the last 10 games fell to 8-12.
If the season ended today, the Knicks would be ranked 11th in the lottery, courtesy of the Mavericks. The Mavericks gave the Knicks an unprotected pick in 2021 and a first-rounder in 2023. The Knicks tied for No. 8 on Sunday, but there are still chances to have two lottery picks for the 2021 draft.
The alarming part of Mavericks’ loss is that Doncic seems fed up, wondering if his teammates want to win.
“Terrible,” said Doncic. “There is not much to say. I’ve never felt this way. We have to do something, because it doesn’t look good and we have to step up and talk to each other and play better than that. It’s more effort. … I’d say we don’t seem to care now, honestly, whether we win games or not. ”
When trading with Porzingis, some in the league were a little worried, knowing the egos of Doncic and Porzingis. The Mavericks were not on Janis Porzingis’ wish list that he gave to Steve Mills – probably knowing that the Mavericks already had the franchise.
The Porzingis brothers had problems in the eyes of general manager Steve Mills and Knicks, Scott Perry, and tried to reduce their losses before he became a restricted free agent.
The extra space provided by the transaction did not detract from the two big fish – Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But he managed to shoot Julius Randle and Morris. They didn’t make a perfect tandem before last season, but Randle played much better once Morris was sent off in February.
This season, Randle exploded, earning major attention at the All-Star in leading the Knicks with a 9-11 start after 20 games that went into the Clippers game. Randle, 26, averaged 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and six assists.
Smith’s journey went the other way. “The G-League is a very valuable tool,” Thibodeau said Sunday before facing the Clippers. “You see that it is used more and more by almost every team in the league. You get a lot out of training, but playing time is important. I think it will be great for him. His attitude was very positive. ”
Smith, Knicks says, requested the move. Ironically, The Post previously reported former development director Craig Robinson wanted to put Smith in the G-League last season, but Perry rejected the notion. Sources say Perry feared Smith’s representatives would be upset.
Smith has been demoted to two garbage cameos since returning after a four-person injury in the first week of January. Earlier this week, Thibodeau mentioned his options as a goalkeeper, but did not mention Smith.
When Thibodeau was hired, he vowed to use the G League more liberally. Smith now goes to the ball, where other teams can see him playing and maybe his commercial value will increase.
Meanwhile, Porzingis, who is 25 years old and missed the first nine games after knee surgery, has an average of 18.6 points, eight rebounds and less than one assist per game. Latvia 7-3 has never been as good as a passer, as announced, coming out of the 2015 draft.
With a rookie lottery selection, Obi Toppin, hardly a sure thing to turn into a power standout, Knicks is looking at Randle with a new goal – not as a commercial bait. The question is how Dallas now sees Porzingis.