The New York Knicks are finalizing a trade with Western Conference contender Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards for veteran forward Marcus Morris, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Clippers are sending Moe Harkless and a 2020 first round pick to New York as well as Jerome Robinson to the Wizards. Morris is heading to the Clippers as is Isaiah Thomas. LA was reportedly sending the Knicks young players in shooting guard Terance Mann and center Mfiondu Kabengele and expiring veteran forward Harkless.
Morris, 30, was heavily targeted by the Clippers in free agency last summer, but the former Boston Celtics stretch four spurned the L.A. franchise along with reneging on a verbally agreed multi-year contract in the offseason with the San Antonio Spurs to sign a one-year, $15 million “prove-it” deal with the Knicks. Since then Morris has turned into New York's leading scorer, shooting a scorching 43.9% from 3-point range, too.
With the trade, the Clippers add the size and scoring they needed in Morris while also adding a solid playmaker to their second unit in Isaiah Thomas. The biggest concerns for LA are now whether or not they can get away with playing Lou Williams and Isaiah Thomas, two of the worst defenders at their position, in the second-unit.
Morris has interest from the Knicks to re-sign next offseason when he's a free agency again this summer. In the meantime, the Clippers to finally get their man by sending the expiring Harkless and two young pieces that don't fit in the current construction of the veteran and contending rotation, led by All-Star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Morris, who was hit with a controversy a week ago when he said a misogynistic comment about Jae Crowder, should fit as a stretch four although he mostly played the small forward position with the Knicks.
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