Boston Celtics: Marcus Morris’ long-term outlook with the team

Marcus Morris is set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason. What does the long-term outlook for his future with the Boston Celtics?

Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris, is slated to become a free agent at the end of the season. He’s currently in his last year of his previous contract of four years, $20 million. He’s only making a little over $5 million this season, but that number figures to go up based on how well he’s performed.

Morris has been a huge benefit for this team so far. He’s currently averaging 14.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. In fact he’s having the best year of his career thus far. It’s still early in the season, but the way this is shaping up, he could outperform his previous best year in 2015-16.

It’s not just the scoring he’s brought to the team, but his efficiency doing so. He’s currently shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3. Never has he shot above 40 percent from deep. Again, it’s still early, but he’s attempting a career high 5.0 attempts per game from distance.

Another thing worth noting about his efficiency, has been his ability to knock down free throws. This season he’s only attempting 2.2 per game, but within that average he’s shot 87.5 percent from the charity stripe.

Morris has been very versatile for this team. He’s excelled coming off the bench or when the team has needed him to start. The Celtics have won their previous five games after they plugged in Marcus Smart and Morris in the starting lineup.

Boston is once again pretty banged up, and that has allowed Morris to play with the starters. Whether he’s coming off the bench or as a starter has little effect on how he performs.

• Starter: 15.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 93.8 FT%
• Bench: 13.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 48.6 FG%, 44.9 3P%, 85.0 FT%

The team was really hurting in the win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. Expectations were not high, seeing as how they were down five players (Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Aron Baynes and Guerschon Yabusele).

Those are four key guys to the Celtics winning games. However, Morris’ performance was proof that even shorthanded, he would not be slowed him down. He went out and scored a team-high 31 points, shooting 10-for-15 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3. He also added four rebounds and four assists.

Morris has been a huge factor to the Celtics winning games this season and the latest win over the Pelicans was a perfect example.

Mook is an energy guy who brings a lot of passion and attitude. That hasn’t been a problem this season with the team, but something that has been needed during this sluggish start. With the Celtics really struggling over the first 20 games, Morris has been there providing energy every time.

There’s a case to be made that he has been their most consistent player so far. However, with how well he’s performed and being an upcoming free agent, it’s easy to wonder what his long-term outlook with the team is.

If Morris continues to play like this, he’ll be due for a bigger payday this offseason. Every team wants and needs a guy who can shoot the ball from 3, stretch the floor as a forward and bring energy consistently every night.

Boston doesn’t have that kind of money to spend because it’s already pressed against the wall with already large contracts for Hayward and Horford. Irving is set to get another big deal this offseason and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are not far off from their extensions.

Even though Marcus Morris’ play has been really good and beneficial for this team, it’s unlikely the Celtics will be able to re-sign him this offseason. Unless he wishes to take a significant pay cut, Morris will probably find himself wearing another team’s jersey next year.

Morris’ big play this season has allowed him to earn more money this offseason. Despite this not helping the Celtics long-term, it does provide them help right now.