With the Kevin Durant saga resolved at least for the time being, the Nets can shift their focus to filling out their projected regular season roster, which currently has a couple openings. According to reports from Chris Milholen of NetsDaily (Twitter link) and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nets may use one of those spots to bolster their frontcourt with a free agent addition.
Milholen reports that there’s mutual interest between Markieff Morris and the Nets, with Scotto confirming that the team has expressed “exploratory” interest in the veteran forward.
Morris was limited to just 17 appearances last season in Miami due to a neck injury that sidelined him for much of the year, but he has a solid NBA résumé, having appeared in over 700 regular season games for six teams since entering the league in 2011. In his last full season, Morris averaged 6.7 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 61 games (19.7 MPG) for the Lakers in 2020/21. He’s known for his toughness and defensive versatility, and can also stretch the floor a little on offense (.341 career 3PT%).
Veteran center Tristan Thompson is another potential Nets target to watch, according to Scotto, who says the club would like to add a backup center after losing Andre Drummond in free agency.
Thompson, 31, played for three teams in 2021/22, starting the season with the Kings before being traded to the Pacers, who bought him out, clearing a path for him to sign with the Bulls. In total, Thompson averaged 6.0 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 57 games (15.7 MPG).
While there are a number of other intriguing frontcourt players on the free agent market, Scotto threw cold water on the idea that Brooklyn could sign Dwight Howard or Carmelo Anthony, reporting that the club doesn’t currently have interest in either player.
The Nets are carrying 12 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts. Edmond Sumner, who has a partial guarantee of $250K on his minimum-salary deal, has the inside track to be the 13th man. Even if we assume Sumner will make the regular season roster, that still leaves one or two open slots.
Brooklyn has its full taxpayer mid-level exception ($6.48MM) available, though it’s unclear if any of the players on the team’s radar will command more than the minimum.
Lebron got Thompson paid in CLE and never played with him again
So?
That should get them knocked out of first round.
thompson is a solid 3rd option for a center don’t know what you mean…i can see him being a good fit (although the nets don’t need kardashian drama mixed in with their already existing drama) but i don’t know about morris’s fit with the team. plus, morris is probably going to end up playing with his brother, they’ve got a wagner and mobley situation going on with them
Not their first Kardashian rodeo. Harden, Humphries…
Sign Boogie
I was hoping MEM would take a look at Boogie and Melo. Have been some good bench pieces the last few years, and could provide a good scoring boost to MEM 2nd unit.
Melo does seem like a good bench option for Mem.
Morris may get more than the minimum. In terms of roster spots, David Duke Jr is angling for a standard contract. That’s why he rejected his two-way QO.
Just checked Spotrac, he probably won’t get more than minimum since that’s what he has been getting recently.
The one FA center still available that made more than the T-MLE last year is Montrezl Harrell. If he’s willing to take it, he could be a good get for the Nets.
The drug charge may temper the interest in Harrell, though.
I think either one will be a great pickup. Tristan Thompson is a very solid backup Center. It’s just so much off court distractions come with him.
Markieff Morris can play the stretch four or stretch five for any team. It’s just he hardly healthy as of late.
I would’ve loved for the Los Angeles Clippers to picked him up for he can reunite with his twin brother Marcus Morris Sr.
I believe Khloe Kardashian had it written into her contract with Tristan that he sign with a high-profile title contender. Nobody paid him any attention wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey. Brooklyn looks primed for a title. Tristan now will sit at the very end of the Brooklyn bench. The Kardashian’s are on Hulu now, and are losing popularity, and are desperate for story lines. Look for Khloe in the stands with the kids while Tristan sits on the bench after a night of partying with some young chicks.
The Kardashian curse and the fake tough guy who likes to hurt other players then whines when it comes with retaliation. Jokic would whoop his a*s in street fight!!
They are two of the best guys left
As a New Yorker but a Boston Celtics fan I don’t enjoy watching the Nets anymore after they dumped their coach & players to try to buy a title with Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving. But I guess they should get a chance w Simmons to run the table. Go Celtics!
Thompson is terrible. Morris is a better fit, but can’t rebound. Neither makes a difference.