Marcus Morris is one of the hottest names involved in trade rumors with only a month left before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, yet some in the New York Knicks brass believe there is value in keeping the veteran forward for the long term, according to Colin Martin and Ian Begley of SNY.

Some members of the organization have been impressed with his play and his veteran leadership during a rollercoaster 2019-20 season and see him as a valuable player in a team that will need some rebuilding.

Morris was the team's top scorer through the vast part of the season, holding down the fort for a struggling Julius Randle and a team that scuffed through the first 22 games of the season under David Fizdale.

He showed just why during a close Sunday affair with the Los Angeles Clippers, pouring a season-high 38 points with remarkable efficiency. Morris has been among the league's most efficient 3-point shooters, making him a quality player to target with veteran chops that can certainly help in the postseason.

Yet the Knicks, who have vastly improved since interim coach Mike Miller took over the helm, see the right New York mettle in the grizzled Philadelphia native.

Morris has been adamant in finishing the season with the Knicks if it was up to him.

“You just asked me that last game,” said Morris. “That isn't going to change. I love our team. I love our future. I just want to be a part of helping these young guys grow into the great players they're going to be.”

Morris opted to sign a one-year, $15 million deal with the Knicks after having a verbal two-year, $20 million deal with the Spurs in place, reportedly also with an offer from the Clippers.

“That was the reason why I made the decision to come here, going back on the decisions I made, along with a lot of other things,”  he said. “I'm here and I enjoy this organization, I enjoy the players they got here and I want to be here long term.”

The Knicks will want to survey their options, as he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and leave for nothing if another team poaches him, but they will ask for a hefty compensation if they do decide to deal him in the next month.