Ex-Celt Morris agrees to one-year, $15 million deal with Knicks

The Knicks, despite their strikeouts at the top of the free agency class, are clearly attempting to win more games next season by signing readymade role players.

A source confirmed their latest agreement, Marcus Morris arrived in the Big Apple on Thursday. Along with Taj Gibson, Morris will be one of New York’s most experienced players after he signs a one-year, $15 million pact.

Of course with Morris, a contract isn’t official until it’s signed. He reneged on a twoyear, $20 million deal with the Spurs this week so that he could recoup an extra $5 million next season with the Knicks. It was a bold power play that could sour a relationship between the Spurs and power agent Rich Paul, who represents Morris, and simultaneously benefit the Knicks.

The Spurs, who are in a better place to compete for the playoffs than the Knicks, had traded Latvian sharpshooter Davis Bertans to create the cap space to sign Morris. But then the Knicks encountered an unexpected and undisclosed medical issue with one of their other free-agent signings, Reggie Bullock, prompting the team to try to rework the agreement.

The expectation is the Knicks will still sign Bullock, but at a lesser salary.

That freed up the space for Morris, and now Paul – who is LeBron James’ agent – has his first client in New York after publicly pushing for the Knicks to trade for another one of his clients, Anthony Davis.

Morris, 29, will represent the Knicks’ fourth power forward addition this summer, joining Gibson, Bobby Portis and Julius Randle. He brings experience, leadership, versa

tility and defense. But aside from the additional $5 million, it’s a curious decision. Morris often started last season for the Celtics, a team with championship aspirations (but which flamed out in the second round of the playoffs). He has started 233 of his last 280 games, but there’s no clear path to the starting lineup in New York unless one of the prioritized youngsters takes a seat.

Randle is the front-runner to start at power forward for the Knicks, who are pushing forward with the development of their young core: Randle, Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. Still, the Knicks are trying to improve markedly from their leaguelow 17 wins from last season.