According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the New York Knicks have signed veteran forward Marcus Morris. This is Morris’ second stint with the team as he played for them during the 2019-20 season. In 43 games with the team, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Additionally, he shot 44.2% from the field and 43.9% from beyond the arc with the Knicks.
Free agent F Marcus Morris has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, agent Yony Noy of LAA Partners tells @TheAthletic. Morris will have a chance to enter his 14th NBA season with the Eastern Conference contender. pic.twitter.com/Wz4jSrmbfE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 15, 2024
In a press release, the Knicks’ PR social media page revealed they signed Morris to an Exhibit 9 contract.
.@nyknicks Sign Marcus Morris Sr. to an Exhibit 9 Contract pic.twitter.com/44hhwrfiPd
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) September 15, 2024
Morris most recently spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers last season. On the year, he averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. While his regular season numbers were forgettable, the Kansas alum enjoyed a fantastic performance in the playoffs. In a Game 5 loss to the eventual champion Boston Celtics, another one of his former teams, Morris scored 25 points on 10-for-13 shooting. He also recorded three rebounds and two assists. This was ultimately his final game with the team.
New York Knicks Reunite With Veteran Forward
Marcus Morris Will Not Reunite With Brother On the Dallas Mavericks
A little over a week ago, Marcus’ brother, Markieff Morris, re-signed with the Mavericks. In the past, Markief openly expressed his desire to team up with his brother once again. In addition to being college teammates, the twins also played alongside each other on the Phoenix Suns from 2013 to 2015. With both brothers now officially signed, this will continue to be just a dream for the time being.
What Marcus Morris Will Bring to the Knicks
At this point in his career, Morris is mostly just a veteran presence. However, he does provide depth. Furthermore, as we saw in last season’s playoff run, Morris still has a little bit left in the tank. Unlike his last time in New York, when he started every game he played for the team, the 35-year-old will most likely assume a minor role with the Knicks. Ultimately, they are a competitive team now with championship aspirations. Additionally, due to the nature of an Exhibit 9 contract (which is not guaranteed until the start of the regular season), it is likely that Morris may be off the team within the next month anyway.
Regardless, signing Morris is a low-risk move for both sides. Training camp is set to begin in a couple of weeks, and Morris is certainly still good enough to be on a roster. If he can play well enough for the team to keep him into the regular season, then it was worth it for the Knicks to bring him back. On the flip side, if not, they will just move on from him before the start of the season, which will not impact their salary cap in any way.
