Markieff Morris re-signed with the Lakers this past offseason for the veteran’s minimum, though he had offers elsewhere that would have given him a more lucrative contract. The former first-round pick opted to remain in Los Angeles and help the team defend its title rather than seek the bigger payday.
“I would rather come back home (to L.A.) where they know me,” he said. “We talked about getting more money, and it was supposed to be that way, but even so, the Lakers just fit me best. It’s just a perfect fit for me.”
Morris, who arrived in Los Angeles via the buyout market last season, admitted that he hoped the Lakers would offer him more than the vet’s minimum (roughly $1.6 million). However, the franchise was approaching the hard cap and could not give him a better deal.
The 31-year-old forward has a key contributor for Los Angeles recently with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis sidelined.
More NBA Rumors
- Wizards big man Daniel Gafford had a feeling he might be traded by the Bulls at the deadline, telling Fred Katz of The Athletic that thought there was a “50-50” chance at a trade. “I was in and out (of the lineup). I wasn’t really playing as much,” Gafford said. “So, there was a lot of stuff going on in my head, just really trying to stay as positive as I could.”
- While there was a report that Indiana University made Brad Stevens a seven-year, $70 million contract offer to be their head coach, Stevens “I was never offered a package. That’s all news to me. Secondly, I wasn’t going to leave anyways,”Stevens said (via Kyle Hightower of The Associated Press). “I was never offered that. I don’t know where that came from.”
- The Bucks acquired P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline and added Jeff Teague on the buyout market and GM Jon Horst spoke to Eric Nehm of The Athletic about the moves. “I could not be happier the way that we came out of the trade deadline and the buyout market in terms of how we’ve hopefully finished off this roster,” Horst explained.
- ICYMI: Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet is looking to make an NBA comeback.
