After a loud offseason but silent trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly nearing their first in-season roster change by signing Marcus Morris, Sr. from the buyout market.
Morris, most recently a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, entered the free agent pool on February 29 in his thirteenth season in the NBA. Having been waived prior to the March 1 deadline, Morris will be available for postseason play with the Cavaliers if the two sides officially agree on a deal. The veteran forward will reportedly sign with Cleveland for the rest of this season, according to a new name in the news-breaking game, the Pat Bev Pod.
Marcus Morris Sr. Is planning to sign with the Cleveland Cavs - Per Sources pic.twitter.com/5NtNBnD0lY
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) March 15, 2024
The Cavaliers prioritized veteran forwards and floor spacing with Georges Niang and Max Strus this offseason after a subpar shooting season the year prior. Throughout the season, the Cavs have found tremendous help from both players as leaders on and off the court, too. The move for Marcus Morris fits into this mold in a unique way. While the Cavs' rotation is already fairly set already, Morris can help sustain the team in the wake of injuries and be another option off the bench in the postseason for certain matchups.
At 34 years old, Morris is not the high-octane athlete Strus has become, and he is not the 40-percent shooter Niang is. Still, Morris will be a valuable presence for the Cavaliers coming playoff run, even if he rarely sees on-court action. In his time with Philly this year, Morris shot 40 percent on 2.4 three-point attempts per game, averaging 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games played. His career reputation as a high-end shooter and trash talker is apparent in his value to the Cavs, but he can bring more to the table that the Cavaliers might desperately need in the coming months.
Marcus Morris adds to Cleveland's playoff experience
Last postseason was the first experience past the regular season for many Cavaliers. The experienced New York Knicks were easily able to take advantage of their inexperience, both players and coaching staff. Morris has been there and done, including two trips to the conference finals. Alongside Tristan Thompson, Strus and Niang, the Cavs will have a solid core of veteran leaders who can mentally prepare the younger stars to navigate the playoffs.
Morris has played in a total 67 playoff games, starting in 45 of them. In three trips with the LA Clippers, Morris helped the franchise reach their first ever Western Conference Finals, averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 37.5 percent from deep in 19 games and 18 starts. As much as the value of playoff experience has been repeated this season, the Cavaliers will never be able to overvalue the impact that a vocal veteran leader brings to a young organization with high hopes.
With a playoff series under their belt and leadership in the locker room, coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Cavs are entering this next run with much more confidence. Morris adds another layer of security in the locker room.
The Cavaliers will need Morris' physicality
Even with two seven-foot studs in their starting frontcourt, the Cavaliers only grab 72.4 percent of available defensive rebounds, ranking them eleventh in the NBA. In their most recent match with the Knicks, Cleveland stood by as 6-foot 4-inches Josh Hart stole 19 rebounds away from the Cavs' bigs. When teams are willing to test the refs' whistles and push the Cavaliers around in the post, Cleveland often loses the rebounding battle and cannot respond to the physicality.
Before his 25-game suspension, Tristan Thompson could absorb the contact and get the Cavs extra possessions and not allow opponents to get a second chance of their own. When Thompson returns, Cleveland will look to him for that same energy once again.
While Morris is primarily known as a shooting forward, he is also one of the most physically fearless players in the Association. It gets him in plenty of trouble from time to time, but he is never dissuaded from filling his role as a physical enforcer. The Cavaliers frankly need somebody who can go on the court and take some heavy hits when Allen and Mobley are struggling. Morris will also help teach Mobley and Allen how to handle physicality by bullying them in the post in team practice.
In truth, the most valuable impact Morris can bring to the Cavs is not what he produces on the court. It is what he can pass onto Cleveland's young bigs going forward. If Morris can show them how to take a hit and respond well, the Cavaliers will be able to handle any matchup in the postseason. Additionally, Morris is another proven shooter who can give Mobley more advice as the growing star continues to add a jump shot to his overall body of work. Mobley has progressively improved as a shooter, but he is still looking to take that big leap.
The Cavaliers can never have too much shooting depth
If there is one constant the Cavaliers have enjoyed this season, it is their depth that allows them to survive all the other uncertainties injuries have caused.
Marcus Morris will not receive minutes every night, and he may have stretches of games that he does not play at all. Still, the Cavaliers will be adding another forward who can be ready to contribute any night that his name is called. The Cavs will hopefully be fully healthy by the time the playoffs come around, but if any other forward even just needs extra rest in the middle of a game, Morris is a security measure who can provide Cleveland with an extra boost down the stretch.
The Cavaliers have turned numerous end-of-bench role players into momentary stars in the spotlight this season. Both Sam Merrill and Craig Porter, Jr. have entirely redefined their NBA reputations this year. Merrill has especially done so from beyond the arc. The Utah native had always been known as a shooter, but the elite level of movement shooting and consistency has been unparalleled. Morris will not run around the court endlessly searching for a shot like Merrill, but he has connected on 43.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes this season. When Morris gets himself set, he is ready to launch from anywhere on the court and punish bad defensive rotations. The Cavs need another guy who can do that.
Overall, Morris will likely play a similar role as Niang. He is a knock down shooter with playoff experience and a physical playstyle. Both guys are never afraid to bark in a rival's face and risk getting T'd up. While technical fouls can hurt a team's chances at times, that fearless energy and relentless pursuit to do what it takes to win will be incredibly beneficial for the Cleveland Cavaliers.