Morris wants to stay: “I love Denver”
For all the questions the Nuggets answered about their promising future this past season, their riveting postseason run raised another.
Do the Nuggets have two startingcaliber point guards on their roster?
After Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Swiss- army wing Jerami Grant, Monte Morris was probably the next steadiest player during Denver’s playoff run to the Western Conference Finals. Morris, whose $ 1.7 million contract is non- guaranteed until the start of free agency, may have forced the Nuggets’ hand in terms of extension talks. Without a new deal, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
“I don’t think it’s a secret to anyone,” Morris told The Denver Post. “I would love to get an extension here. I love Denver. I love everything from the organization to the coaches all the way down to equipment, to everyone. Me, personally, hopefully, if it goes that way. I would love to be in Denver for however long.”
There is believed to be mutual interest in a deal, however it’s unclear if serious conversations have started between Nuggets executive Tim Connelly and Morris’ agent Ron Shade, potentially due to the league’s fluid salary cap numbers.
The question becomes what’s fair value for a backup guard who many league insiders believe is good enough to be a starter? As a secondary question, is there a path where Morris can start in Denver? The Nuggets love getting Murray off the ball, but their backcourt would be small, especially on defense, by NBA standards, by playing Murray and Morris as starters.
Last season, Morris averaged 9.0 points on 46% shooting, including 38% from the 3- point line. His assist- to- turnover ratio of 4.81 was second in the NBA.
Beyond that, Morris filled in admirably for an injured Murray during a stretch in January that thrust him into the starting lineup. Ever since arriving in Denver after grinding in the G League, Morris has been beloved in the
Nuggets’ locker room.
Memphis guard Tyus Jones ( 7.4 points on 46% shooting; 38% from 3 and the league’s best assist/ turnover ratio at 5.18) is a fair comparison player- wise. During the 2019 offseason, Jones signed with Memphis on a 3- year, $ 28 million deal.
Milwaukee guard George Hill ( 9.4 points on 51% shooting; league- high 46% from 3) is another decent comparison. He’s in the middle of a 3- year, $ 28 million deal himself.
On the other end of the spectrum
is Washington guard Ish Smith, who averaged nearly 11 points and five assists for a bad Wizards team. He’s in the final year of a 2- year, $ 12 million deal.
Anything in the $ 6 million- peryear range is believed to be a nonstarter for Morris, according to a league source.
As invaluable as Murray was in the “Bubble,” Morris was more than solid in his own right. Morris’ frustrating playoff debut two seasons ago gnawed at him. In Orlando, he redeemed himself. In 19 playoff games he averaged 9.1
points on 49% shooting to pair with 2.7 assists.
Those numbers essentially duplicated what he’d done during the regular season, technically his third in the NBA, and further convinced Nuggets coach Michael Malone of Morris’ value.
“Monte, he’s a player that you know what you’re going to get,” Malone said during Denver’s secondround series win over the L. A. Clippers. “He’s gonna go out there, he’s gonna value the ball, he’s gonna make his teammates better.”