Pacers' Draft Possibilities: Marcus Morris

by Ian Levy on Jun 14, 2011 10:00 AM EDT in 2011 NBA Draft Prospects

With the Draft Lottery complete, the Early Entry List set, and the NBA Draft fast approaching, it's time to examine more in depth some of the players who could be available for the Pacers. Over the next few weeks I'll be trying to put together as many profiles as possible. Instead of identifying players as specific targets for either Pacers' pick, I'm just going to cover a pool of players I think are possibilities. You'll find some players who the Pacers would likely have to trade up or down for. I've also expressed my opinion that the Pacers need to be focused on talent as much as fit so players at all five positions will be included.

These profiles are not intended to advocate for one player over another, just examine their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss in some detail what they have to offer. For each profile I provided Ten Important Statistics to guide the discussion. Today we'll be looking at:

Marcus Morris - PF - 6'8.75" 230 lbs. - University of Kansas

Ten Important Stats - Marcus Morris
Pts/40	Reb/40	Ast/40	Stl/40	2PT%	3PT%	FT%	FT/40	TO/40	USG%
23.2	10.3	2.2	1.1	62.0%	34.2%	68.8%	7.6	2.4	19.6

Current DraftExpress Projection: Round 1, Pick #10

Strengths:

Efficient and versatile scorer, can post-up, knock down a mid-range jumpshot, or face-up and beat his man off the dribble
Excellent touch around the rim
Good shot selection, knows when to move the ball, doesn't turn it over very often
Shows good effort and intensity on the defensive end, has the footspeed to be an adequate pick-and-roll defender

Weaknesses:

Does not have ideal height or length for a power forward
Will need to add some strength to compete on the interior in the NBA
A very average rebounder, limited by strength and length
Could add range on his jumpshot

Impressions:

With the increasingly diverse roles power forwards play at the NBA level, Morris offers intriguing potential due to how complete a player he is at this juncture. While he could certainly stand to get stronger, is a bit undersized for the four position, has a short wingspan, and is not a freak athlete, he has the potential to play a David West-type role in if he continues to polish his game offensive and works on his weaknesses. That would be especially true if he's able to complement a dominant interior scorer such as Al Jefferson from the high-post or perimeter, or provide a prolific offensive punch off a team's bench a la Al Harrington.

- Matt Kamalsky, DraftExpress.com

Comparables:

DeMarre Carroll - 913
D.J. White - 909
Quincy Pondexter - 907
See the rest of Marcus Morris' comparables at Hickory-High

How he can help the Pacers:

Morris has a very developed skill set and could likely contribute right away for the Pacers. He has a polished offensive game, something the Pacers need, and could provide that scoring punch as a starter or off the bench. There may be some concerns about his game duplicating that of Tyler Hansbrough. He was an effective post scorer in college but it may take time to translate that part of his game against bigger and stronger competition. His face-up and mid-range game are very similar to what the Pacers already get from Hansbrough. Morris also appears to share the same rebounding and defensive deficiencies. However, if he falls to the Pacers at #15 he will likely be the most talented player left on the board. Morris may not perfectly fill a need, but he's ready to contribute right away and could provide as much overall production as the Pacers' can hope to find in this draft.

Video:

More Information:

DraftExpress Profile
ESPN Draft Profile
NBADraft.net Profile

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Comments

I'm not a fan.

Looks like a tweener and I don’t much care for those. Rather have his brother, tbh.

Thug Life. It's a Pacers thing, you wouldn't get it.

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jun 14, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

I hate tweeners!

we already have a short 4 with an iffy jumpshot and average rebounding.

rather have Faried if we are going with another PF who is a future bench player… at least Faried fills a need. Morris just duplicates Hans.

Unless we are trading hans. Then sure… morris has talent.

by dbcb on Jun 14, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

I completely agree that Marcus basically is like Hans. While I don’t mind tweeners, it would be nice to get a PF that excels at rebounding and defense.

At this point, both Morris brothers just like to flap their mouths.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Jun 14, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Faried was a beast

At morehead state……. Talk about a guy who’s undersized and the only thing he can do is rebound.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 14, 2011 7:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The BPA concept

I think Morris is talented enough to garner top-10 consideration in most drafts, so if he falls to us and Burks or Tristan Thompson are gone, I’d be thrilled to draft him. Don’t really care if he duplicates Hansbrough; I like Hansbrough’s skill set as it relates to Roy Hibbert. I just think Hansbrough needs to be more athletic and better at defense…Morris is more athletic and better on defense.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Jun 14, 2011 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

i wouldn't hate it

I mean, in this shitty draft, BPA has to apply.

if we do draft him, i would like to trade Hans though for whatever we can get.

by dbcb on Jun 14, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

oh and those player comparisons are the worst I have seen that have been posted here...

by dbcb on Jun 14, 2011 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

The comparisons are based on statistics

They may not match up physically or by style of player, but those players had the most comparable statistical production to Morris.

Carroll and Morris were almost identical in terms MPG, USG%, DReb/40, Blk/40, PF/40, Pts/40, OReb/40, FTA/40, etc:

There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket. ~Abe Lemons
Find me at IndyCornrows
and Hickory-High

by Ian Levy on Jun 14, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

dont know what he was saying

But those are some of the worst PLAYERS I’ve seen anyone compared to…could be a bad sign

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Jun 14, 2011 1:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

yeah I didn't mean anything bad about the process Levy

I mean the actual PLAYERs he compares too suck lol.

I mean others were getting compared to Westbrook… and he gets DJ White.

I am not knocking the system at all :)

by dbcb on Jun 14, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

gotcha, still having problems with my functional literacy I guess

sorry about coming back so strong

There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket. ~Abe Lemons
Find me at IndyCornrows
and Hickory-High

by Ian Levy on Jun 14, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

no worries I wrote it weird.

by dbcb on Jun 14, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

don't want either of the Morris brothers, they are actually even smaller and less athletic than HANS!!

by latrell spreewel on Jun 14, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

I dont like either of the Morris'.......

Yes I am a proud Rush apologist, but the guy has not lived up to expectations. Quite frankly I wonder if Bill Self can even develop talent, because Rush might be the best guy to come out of Kansas in the last 5 years, if that says anything.

by Justin Arnold on Jun 14, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Mario Chalmers

I’d probably rate him better than Rush right now. But your general point is correct, for a power school Kansas players haven’t really done well in the NBA

by full sail on Jun 14, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really his job to develop talent for the NBA.

His job is to win championships at Kansas and get his kids to graduate (or so they should).

Thug Life. It's a Pacers thing, you wouldn't get it.

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jun 14, 2011 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Get a twin!

Obviously not many of you have actually watched Marcus play or develope over the past 3 years. His post game is phenomenal and he can knock down 3s and spread the floor. He shot an amazing percentage from the floor his junior year at KU and most of his shots were outside the paint. He is a better scorer than Hans and will probably play D a little better than Hans in the pros.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 14, 2011 7:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Your 100% correct on that, I didnt.......

UCLA etc. is a school I like drafting NBA talent from, Kansas is not. Just bad stigma when I think of whats come out of Kansas other than the Truth. Aldridge? Wheres he at? I thought Chalmers and Rush both would have high ceilings, they havent matched them. Chalmers is Clutch though and Rush can shoot and defend, but none of them have lived up to what I thought they’d be. Dont know much about the twins I just know Kansas has under performed since they won the ‘ship, and their players haven’t been stellar in the NBA thus far IMO. So No from me on the twins, though I’ll contradict myself and say I like Selby, but just cause he only spent one year getting messed up by Self and could become a very good player in the league IMO.

by Justin Arnold on Jun 14, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude your out of your mind

Guy saying KU is not a place you draft from for NBA talent yet you would draft Burks in a heartbeat. Colorado? Seriously? Im a huge big 12 fan. I watched Burks play. Hell i seen him play in person. He is supremely overrated. He got shut down by Brady Morningstar. Do we need someone on our team who gets shut down by Brady F#$%king Morningstar of all people? And talk about a school who has never produced someone worth squat in the NBA outside of Chauncey Billups. Your argument is dumb. Scottie Pippen played at Arkansas State. What exactly is the point your trying to make? Any school can produce a stud at any given time.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Burks never got shut down against Kansas

let alone by Morningstar

He played KU 4 times in his time in Boulder. Once as a freshman (7/16, 17/7/1) and three times as a soph, 7/14 for 25/6/2, 6/12 for 15/6/3, and 9/18 for 23/5/6

None of those are games are what qualifies as being shut down.

KEEP COACH FRANK

by IndyPacers on Jun 15, 2011 6:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah and the game i went to

Brady Morningstar held Burks to 15 points (6 points below his average). While Burks let Brady Morningstar have one of his best games as a Jayhawk scoring 16 points (9 points above his average). Lets talk about Burks’ lack of defense against un athletic white guys who hes 3 inches taller than while were at it.

Brady Morningstar 16 pts, 4 rbs, 5 ast, 2 stl, 0 turnovers
Alec Burks 15 points, 6 reb, 3 ast, 0 stl, 3 turnovers

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok...

What about the other games?

Thug Life. It's a Pacers thing, you wouldn't get it.

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jun 15, 2011 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions

The bottom line is

We dont need another Brandon Rush minus the defensive skills. My 84 year old grandpa could score on Alec Burks.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh i forgot,

Brandon Rush minus the defense was a little too generous. Burks also couldnt hit a 3 pointer to save his life. Were better off keeping the inconsistent Brandon Rush who i completely dislike.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't really see how there games compare.

Burks isn’t passive like Rush either. Burks is a scorer, Rush is a spot-up shooter. There are plenty of guys who have succeeded despite having no 3pt shot, simply because they can just score. For example, Dywane Wade. Burks is an excellent ball handler, able to use both hands. Rush is pretty awful. Burks rebounds well for his size and has impressive court vision. His defense isn’t that bad, it’s at least average.

The bottom line is Rush and Burks don’t compare at all. Burks is the superior player and we are never better off keeping Brandon Rush.

Thug Life. It's a Pacers thing, you wouldn't get it.

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jun 15, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I think people are starting to forget just how weak this draft is.

Any other year Burks would be a late 1st to mid 2nd round pick. Think about that for a second. And 2 of Burks’ biggest knocks on him are his defense and perimeter shooting. That is NOT the knocks you want on you in the NBA when your trying to get on the court. Yes, Burks does have more potential than brandon rush did coming out of college but i do not think its such potential worth our 15th pick. He will not see the floor very often in at least his first 2 years in the league with no defense or 3 point shot. Mark my words.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually

Most analysts and scouts are conceding that this draft isn’t any worse than most, it just lacks as many high-end elite level talents. In a recent chat Chad Ford said that the top 2 guys are very good, but beyond them there’s usually a tier of good-to-great players in the 3-7 range, or something like that. That doesn’t appear to be the case this year, and it’s why we see guys like Burks, Kemba Walker, Jimmer and the top two Euros (after Kanter) being mocked so high. But he said that the mid-to-late first round is just as good as it always is. I don’t think it’s fair to say Burks would be a late-first to mid-second round pick in a standard draft. I think he’d probably be a mid-first rounder, which is where we’re picking. Remember, most people aren’t mocking him that low, so it would be a relative value. On a side note, I believe Marcus Morris and Enes Kanter would both be lottery picks no matter what. We’re just missing 2-3 elite guys who pulled out (Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones) as well as a couple late lotto-to late first round guys who pulled out (Terrence Jones and Davis Bertans). The majority of this year’s crop floats just around the mean, talent-wise, I’d wager. There are plenty of accomplished guys (Mack, Brooks, the Morrises, Jimmer, JaJuan Johnson) and plenty of guys with big potential (Biyombo, the top three Euros, Burks, Tobias Harris). You’re just going to have to admit you won’t get a star. Doesn’t mean it necessarily affects the Pacers’ draft too much, as they likely wouldn’t have ended up with a star anyway. What it does mean is that the 2012 draft is going to most likely yield a crop that is slightly above the mean, talent-wise, and it increases the chances of the Pacers landing a star if they pick at the same place. But it won’t guarantee anything, considering #15 in any draft is pretty hit or miss.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Jun 15, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe some home grown there at Kansas? Its all about "culture". What kind of "culture" do they have at Kansas? 420 culture?

by Justin Arnold on Jun 14, 2011 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

Whoa whoa whoa. Lets not go there with the 420 crap.

Straight from your boy Eric Gordon speaking of his IU hoosiers days…..

In December 2008, Eric Gordon raised issues of drug use on the Indiana team, stating that some players were abusing drugs and that this led to the disintegration of the team, and that Sampson tried to stop it, but did not as he was focused on winning

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 6:11 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah they did

I personally know one of the kids what was using it. And he only relaly hung out with other players…

by dbcb on Jun 15, 2011 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

No shit donkey......

Thats why we have sucked the last few years, Sampsons a !@##&#&# #&######* ## # ####(#(@&@&# ###!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IU policed itself though unlike some places. And has always been about student athletes, not semi pro athletes.

Take you Jayhawk BS down the road son, noone wants to hear that garbage.

by Justin Arnold on Jun 15, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you

I guess some people are so hell bent on bashing Kansas Basketball and its players that they look past their own schools problems in the process. I just dont understand why such hatred. Leavenworth Kansas and Leavenworth Indiana were founded by brothers and both states are the 2 most storied basketball states. Wheres the love Justin Arnold?

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

i dont really have a problem with KU basketball,

but f*#% bill self

Harper's on Miller, McKey, gets in to Miller for the win and...

Hail to the Orange.
Hail to the Blue.
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true.
We love no other,
So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois, Varsity.

Chief Illiniwek lives

by wonillionaire on Jun 15, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Justin Arnold on Jun 15, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Lol

A bitter Illinois fan. Hey Roy left for UNC and I still love the guy. No homo.

by Shank Williams Jr on Jun 15, 2011 6:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Bill Self is not on Roy Williams level......

F#%$ Illinois too.

by Justin Arnold on Jun 15, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

and F@&#* Leavenworth too.......

by Justin Arnold on Jun 15, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Truly though my points been....

for whatever reason, Kansas hasnt been turning out very good pros in the last 20 yrs except Paul “the Truth” Pierce. Maybe its just the stigma and I have watched them get booted in the first couple rds every year with 1 and 2 seeds. ANd #&$* Bill Self I think hes been a shit coach in the tourney and his team has well underperformed. Im all about history and all that jazz but, me personally IMO just dont think Kansas turns out very good pros much of the time. For whatever reason they dont seem to develop and almost come into the league stunted on what they could have been. Sorry, my opinion, luckily for you I dont work for the Pacers and they may feel totally different.

by Justin Arnold on Jun 15, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions