2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Markieff Morris: 1 year, $3.6 million (Detroit Pistons)
Free agent Markieff Morris has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2019
Will be signed using bi-annual exception ($3.6 million), per league sources. https://t.co/bFcPcvYQwL
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) July 3, 2019
After an injury-riddled season in 2018-19, Markieff Morris will be joining the Detroit Pistons on the bi-annual exception ($3.6 million), giving them pretty fair value for depth in the frontcourt.
As far as the basketball fit is concerned, the Pistons are already familiar with his twin brother, Marcus Morris, who’s a somewhat similar player that spent two seasons in Detroit from 2015-17. Assuming he returns fully healthy and rust-free next season, Keef will fill a stretch-4 role, though it’s a less than efficient one as a career 33.8 percent shooter from distance.
However, before last season’s depressing Washington Wizards campaign and recovery time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Morris had shot 36.7 percent and 36.2 percent from downtown, respectively, in his last two seasons in D.C. As a backup for Blake Griffin on a cheap deal, this is another solid depth move for the Pistons.
Grade: B