Marcus Morris has decided to sign with the New York Knicks. Just because the veteran forward reneged on his initial agreement with the San Antonio Spurs, though, hardly means he holds any ill will toward Gregg Popovich, R.C. Buford, and company.
After his one-year, $15 million deal with the Knicks was reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania, Morris went out of his way to ensure the basketball world knew his choice to sign with New York was “no knock” on San Antonio.
“I had to make this decision based on the best situation for me and my family,” he said, per The Athletic. “This is no knock on the Spurs. I have respect for them.”
Morris agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Spurs earlier this week. Reports surfaced shortly thereafter that he was re-considering his free agency options, open to signing with the Knicks upon learning the team could create additional cap room by amending the contract agreed to by Reggie Bullock.
Many believed that Morris, coming off a career season, was poised for a significant payday this summer as the most effective, experienced forward on the open market among second-tier free agents. But the league passed him by with a flurry activity in the opening days of free agency, limiting Morris' options for what he deemed would be a market-value contract.
Morris, 29, joins fellow free-agent signee Taj Gibson as a veteran poised to give some steadying influence to the young Knicks. Best as a four but more likely to start at the three, he should split minutes at both forward spots for the Knicks with 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox.
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