After losing All-Star Tyrese Haliburton for the season with a torn Achilles, the Pacers have bolstered their backcourt depth by signing veteran combo guard Monte Morris to a one-year contract.
Taking to social media to announce the deal, ESPN's Shams Charania explained how the deal came together, highlighting Indiana's need for additional bodies at the guard position heading into the 2025-26 NFL season.
“Free agent guard Monte Morris has agreed to a one-year deal with the Indiana Pacers, Andy Shiffman and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tell ESPN,” Charania wrote. “Entering his ninth NBA season, Morris provides backcourt depth to the Pacers.”
Originally drafted with the 51st overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Morris was a key contributor to a number of really good Michael Malone teams in the Mile High City, but even as a quality deep shooter off the bench who could play alongside any other guard, he was viewed as unessential, being traded alongside Will Barton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.
From there, Morris bounced around the NBA, being traded to the Detroit Pistons and then the Minnesota Timberwolves before signing with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent in 2024, where he averaged 9.5 points and 3.6 assists in 12.7 minutes of action a night over 45 reserve appearances.
Is Morris a lock to play a major role in Indiana this fall? Not necessarily, as he only signed a partially guaranteed deal and will be competing for a 15-man roster spot this fall, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, but with a clear need for additional backcourt ammunition as Haliburton recovers, Morris is a veteran option Rick Carlisle can add to the mix in time for training camp.
