Nearly two and a half months after 2013's free agent period got underway, the Sixers are set to sign their first NBA free agent. The team is finalizing an agreement with former Laker Darius Morris, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
It's not clear yet whether Morris will sign a one-year contract or a multiyear deal, or whether he'll earn more than the minimum. But Wojnarowski suggests that Morris' salary for 2013/14 will be at least partially guaranteed. The 22-year-old is also expected to make the team and play meaningful minutes, making him more than just a training camp invitee.
In 48 games last year, including 17 starts, Morris averaged 4.0 PPG and 1.6 APG, while playing 14.2 minutes per contest. With Kobe Bryant on the shelf in the postseason, the Lakers leaned more heavily on Morris, who responded by upping his averages to 10.5 PPG and 3.0 APG. The Brian Dyke client also ranked among the best three-point shooters still available when I explored the subject last month.
The Sixers have made a handful of trades this offseason, bringing in young players like Nerlens Noel, Royce White, and Tony Wroten. However, the club has been very quiet on the free agent front. Prior to Morris' agreement, the only player believed to have a deal with Philadelphia was undrafted rookie Rodney Williams, who reportedly agreed to a partially guaranteed multiyear contract.
Once the Sixers' deals with Williams and Morris become official, the team will have 15 players under contract, though only 11 of those deals are fully guaranteed. As for Morris, he'll likely see plenty of time at the point in Philadelphia, since Michael Carter-Williams and Wroten are the only point guards currently on the roster.