The Los Angeles Lakers tinkered with their roster this summer, avoiding any extreme makeovers and bringing back largely familiar faces around Luka Doncic, including a potentially disgruntled LeBron James. One player they did not bring back, however, was Markieff Morris.
Nothing has officially been announced about Morris not returning, and he is currently unsigned by another team, but the writing is on the wall and it appears to be in permanent ink. The Lakers for their part are at 14 rostered players and seem on track to carry an open roster spot into the season.
Morris joined the Lakers around the Trade Deadline last season as deep reserve depth for the roster. The 14-year veteran appeared in only eight games for the team down the stretch of the season, averaging 15.5 minutes and 5.5 points per game on glacial shooting efficiency. He did not appear in any game of their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
There is certainly history between Morris and the Lakers, as he was a rotation player on the 2020 Championship team that brought LeBron his first and only title with the Lakers (and fourth overall). He was similarly added down the stretch of the season but played in 21 playoff games, getting hot from 3-point range (42 percent) at just the right time to help propel the franchise to the title.
Markieff Morris won’t be back
His return voyage appears to have been a short one, as the door appears closed for a Lakers return. Morris and his twin brother Marcus just hired a new agent to represent them for playing opportunities, per Chris Haynes. That simple report contains multitudes of implications.
If Markieff had a deal lined up to join the Lakers in training camp he likely doesn’t need a new agent, nor does he sign a new one alongside his brother. What’s more, these types of reports are generally optimistic, so if there is a whisper of likelihood an NBA return is in the cards — Lakers or otherwise, to be honest — that is included. “Nate Robinson is working out in hopes of continuing his NBA career.” Not even a hint from the Haynes report.
Whether it’s BIG or China, the Morris brothers appear to be on their way out of the NBA and pointed toward joining their next venture as a joint package. The two have often spoken of playing together, and they reportedly took less money on new contracts a decade ago in Phoenix to play alongside one another; then Marcus was traded to the Detroit Pistons and they have been pinging around opposite sides of the country since.
It was due time for Markieff to move on from the NBA; his impact on winning basketball waned multiple seasons ago. His name value and institutional history with a number of franchises prolonged his NBA career, but it is time. The Lakers have a deeper team than last year and some of the least need in the league for an “Unc” to occupy a roster spot.
Markieff Morris is moving on, just as the Lakers already have.
