AUGUST 6: The Heat’s flurry of Friday press releases continued with an announcement of Morris’ new deal with the team.
“Markieff Morris has been a player that we’ve followed closely for a number of years,” Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. “He can play multiple positions, shoot the three, defend and post-up. To be able to add him to our nucleus was a big move. I want to thank Markieff for coming to Miami.”
AUGUST 3: Veteran forward Markieff Morris has agreed to a one-year deal with the Heat, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). It’ll be worth the veteran’s minimum, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link).
A report on Monday indicated that the Heat had made a contract offer to Morris. A day later, he has accepted it, becoming the latest free agent to make a commitment to Miami this week.
The Heat have focused on adding tough, savvy veterans, having reached deals with Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker in addition to Morris. The club also reached an agreement to re-sign sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and is bringing back center Dewayne Dedmon.
Morris, who figures to share minutes with Tucker at the four, spent the last two seasons with the Lakers, playing a rotation role on the championship roster in 2020. This past season, he averaged 6.7 PPG and 4.4 RPG on 4.05/.311/.720 shooting in 61 games (19.7 MPG). He’s typically a slightly more reliable three-point shooter, having made 34.5% of his career attempts prior to 2020/21.
The Heat still have some of their mid-level exception and their full bi-annual exception available, but they don’t have a ton of breathing room below their hard cap to fill out the roster, so they may prefer minimum-salary signings.
Was hopping he lands with the bucks. Oh well the heat are building a good team. Old and some young players that seem like the are a fit. All they need is a big back up.
The Heats go to scorer next year isn’t even 22 yet (food for thought lol)
Funny to see him go to Heat and Nunn to go to Lakers.
Lakers got the best of that “trade”, that’s for sure. But Markieff is ok in his roll. On some nights he can down important shots, get some rebounds in traffic.
Yeah I liked him. Good hustle, can hit a 3.
Why is he getting less than Tucker? He’s better than Tucker. Tucker isn’t good.
Tucker’s value isn’t in PPG… he’s a glue guy (like Udonis Halem was in the Lebron years)…. When the Heat were trying to trade for him and considered giving up scoring.. I thought it was insane.. but being the bulldog defender and corner three guy.. I think he fits the roster perfectly. Think Shane Battier with less of a shot.
Idk. I feel like Morris does everything Tucker does.
if Morris could play D like Tucker he’d be getting 10-15 mill in this market. But as a Heat fan.. hope you prove me wrong and you’re 100% right lol
People who say “Tucker isn’t good” only look at his stats. He was one of the key reasons the Bucks just beat Phoenix in the Finals. PJ is one of the most underrated defenders in recent history. I’d take him over Markieff any day.
Tucker’s offense has been almost non-existent lately, so he needs to be surrounded with players who can score. He has to have enough offensive talent around him to be effective. I don’t know if Miami qualifies.
OK it’s depth ….. Morris and Tucker is good depth.
First comment I’ve seen agreement on lol.. I’d still would have greatly preferred a scorer in this role (badly wanted Rudy Gay)… but if the Heat can now add a swing 4-5 (Enes Kanter?) They will have a very deep bench.
Same, I was hoping that Rudy Gay goes to the HEAT …… that lengthy, mid-range game & occasional three, will be useful.
Too bad they lost out on Bjelica ……. Bjelica got lost in the rotation last season, owing to Dedmon’s surprising play.
Riles saw something in Bjelica, the potential to replace Kelly O’s role ……. speaking of Olynyk, he would have been perfect for this current team.
Bjelica wasn’t Heat culture… something they found out too late. He was very out of shape and seemed to not want to try to correct that. In contrast.. players have come to the Heat and credited them with turning their careers around because of the fitness requirements and programs.
Bjelica should have played in the Milwaukee series, and it boggles my mind why he wasnt. You have to make them pay defensively for using Bobby Portis, and we just kept getting beat on rotations
Marcus Morris was a big part of how the Lakers beat the Heat in the finals last year. He gives the Heat that size they’ve desperately needed at the 4, but besides that stretch for the Lakers at the end of that season, and the playoffs, he hasnt been that useful in several years, since before his injuries, and arguably a while before that as well…
Both options at the 4 weren’t on my list, although I’m much cooler with PJ Tucker, who only wasnt there b/c of age and recent decline, but also b/c we specifically needed size at that spot. Was really hoping for Milsap or Rudy Gay, among some others, but hopefully the Heat can help him with his consistency on both ends of the floor, and he can be a big piece for them…
Heat still need 2 3 and D wing players after losing Iguodala, and Ariza, and having arguably already needed help at that position. They also still need a floor spacing big. Wonder what will happen with Okpala, b/c I would probably rather see him get the shot over Morris
Thought they might get 1 of those pieces in a sign and trade for Nunn, but I guess they’re further against the hard cap than I realized…
I do expect a couple of their summer league guys brought in on 2 way deals to be guards/wings, so maybe they can add some depth there for them…Marcus Garrett is inconsistent with his dribble, and his jumpshot, but he has Heat DNA. I already assume he gets 1 of the spots