NBA Trade Rumors: Clippers 'Widely Expected' to Explore Deals Involving Marcus Morris

Marcus Morris Sr. might not be long for the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times, the team is "widely expected to look at Morris' contract as a way to facilitate potential trades to upgrade the roster."

Morris, 32, had a solid season for the Clippers, averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three. He started all 54 games he played in the 2021-22 campaign. 

But with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George hopefully healthy for a full season, Morris would likely revert to a bench role. While Morris is generally good for a bucket, the Clippers will have Leonard, George, Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson under contract, among others. 

In other words, scoring shouldn't be an issue. 

And with Morris set to make $16.4 million next year and $17. 1 million in the 2023-24 campaign, he'd be an expensive bench player. Using that money to perhaps add another playmaking point guard or backup center would make sense for a Clippers team trying to finally live up to the championship aspirations that came with acquiring Leonard and George in 2019. 

Ironically, Morris himself suggested that adding another point guard might benefit the Clippers after the team failed to win either of its play-in tournament games:

Whether Morris ends up being the player used to acquire another point guard remains to be seen. But given his salary and L.A.'s options at forward, it wouldn't be a shock.