Versatile Morris eager to hit court
Marcus Morris has a complicated road ahead before it’s time for his first Celtics training camp.
The 6-foot-9 forward, acquired by the Celtics yesterday in a trade that sent Avery Bradley to Detroit, will be in an Arizona court room on Aug. 21 with his twin brother Markieff, who is a forward with the Washington Wizards.
Each faces two felony charges of aggravated assault-temporary disfigurement in Maricopa County. A conviction could carry jail time in an incident that dates back to January of 2015. The brothers were part of a group that allegedly attacked a man named Eric Hood for texting an inappropriate text to their mother.
The Celtics thoroughly investigated the incident before making the trade.
Morris, pleased with the trade, quickly turned the page yesterday with a tweet filled with shamrocks.
“Nothing but love for Detroit! Time to get it. #BostonGottaDOG!!!!!!”
Morris clearly was pleased with his bump up from Detroit to a Celtics team projected at least for a return to the Eastern Conference finals, gives the Celtics yet another player capable of playing both frontcourt positions.
The Celtics now have five such forwards, including Morris, Gordon Hayward, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown and rookie Jayson Tatum.
Morris is a solid 235 pounds, and though he hasn’t been known as a rebounder, he averaged 4.6 rebounds last season playing next to Andre Drummond, one of the most dominant rebounders in the NBA.
Whether he can improve his rebounding presence in this lineup is up in the air. But with a career .355 3-point percentage, he gives the C’s yet another floor spacer and even greater versatility.