New Orleans Pelicans: 3 players from NBA Finals to target in free agency

New Orleans Pelicans realistic free agents from NBA Finals: Markieff Morris

Markieff Morris

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had about enough of the Morris twins. The Morrai are annoying. They start fights. They never shut up. They are generally the type of basketball players that I can’t stand watching.

That being said, once they are on your team, the Morris twins look a whole lot different.

Markieff Morris would bring toughness and edge to a team that desperately needs some. The Pelicans got pushed around for most of the season and did little to fight back. It would be nice to have a guy who can actually defend adult basketball players.

Morris can defend multiple positions and knock down open 3-pointers, but what he really brings is a sense of defensive identity and toughness.

The Pelicans need a few bench players who know how to deliver a hard foul, guys who will relish any defensive assignment and actually enjoy guarding the other team’s best player.

Morris is not an elite defender but he can hold his own against bigger players, which would allow the Pels to go small. He can stretch the floor with his shooting, which keeps getting better as he ages.

He can also be a black hole on offense, hold the ball too long and doesn’t get out and run. If the Pels signed Morris it would be as a defensive bench specialist, a guy who could come in a play multiple spots with the second unit.

Morris is on a value contract at the moment and likely to get a modest raise, but the Pelicans could probably still afford him.

Is he ideal? No. But Morris has qualities the Pelicans lack and fits into their budget. He wouldn’t be my first choice, but he is someone to watch.