Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 ways Markieff Morris can help the team
2. Versatility on offense
Besides Dennis Schroder, there isn’t another player on OKC’s bench who can create his own shot consistently.
Obviously the top three scoring threats on the roster are Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Schroder. Some people may say Steven Adams or Jerami Grant. They’ve improved considerably, but I don’t know if you can quite trust them yet to go get a bucket when the team needs it.
Insert Morris.
At 6’10”, he’s extremely versatile on the offensive end of the floor, and it’s just what the Thunder need.
In a game where 3-pointers are king, you can check that off his list of skills. He’s no sniper by any means, but he’s a career 33.8 percent shooter from deep, so he can definitely knock them down. When he gets on a roll, it could be curtains.
Earlier this season with the Wizards, he hit six of his 10 triples and dropped 28 points in a 125-124 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s the most 3-pointers he’s taken in his 34 games played.
Keef is also really good in the pick-and-pop game — whether it’s from deep or as a mid-range threat. He’s a career 45 percent shooter from the field. Think David West, whose mid-range game made him a lot of money in his career.
The pick-and-pop game can cause a lot of trouble for teams that struggle in that department, especially in the playoffs when the game slows down. Imagine the chemistry he could develop with Schroder, Westbrook or even PG-13 in the pick-and-pop? It has potential to be lethal.
Not only that, he can put the ball on the floor, finish at the rim and more importantly, take you down into the post. He’s a career 77.9 percent free throw shooter, so he never runs from the contact that’ll get him to the charity stripe.
Yes, Terrence Ferguson is beginning to improve. Yes, Hamidou Diallo looks like he has a bright future. But as of right now, those guys aren’t quite there yet. They’re still young and developing.
Morris’ game is polished and ready to go. If he’s incorporated correctly into the offense, he will add a different dynamic to the team. The Thunder can count on him to give them at least 10-15 points a night.