According to multiple reports, an offer by the San Antonio Spurs to free-agent forward Marcus Morris has been pulled, leaving the eight-year veteran to sign a one-year, $15-million deal with the New York Knicks. The Spurs will reportedly opt instead for free-agent forward Trey Lyles.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the news, with Shams Charania of The Athletic following through with additional detail.
Spurs have pulled offer to Marcus Morris and agreed to a deal with free agent Trey Lyles, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 11, 2019
Forward Marcus Morris plans to sign a one-year, $15M deal with the New York Knicks, after reopening his agreement with the San Antonio Spurs, tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 11, 2019
Though it was originally reported that Morris intended to sign with the Spurs shortly after the business moratorium lifted on Saturday, word about a ‘reconsideration’ began bubbling on Tuesday. Charania reported that, despite the turn of events, Morris hopes for a clean break with San Antonio:
Forward Marcus Morris tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium on reopening his free agency and signing with the Knicks on a one-year, $15M deal: “I had to make this decision based on the best situation for me and my family. This is no knock on the Spurs. I have respect for them.”
Morris spent last the past two seasons with the Boston Celtics, serving as a standout reserve for them. In the 2018-19 season, Morris averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
The 23-year-old Lyles is said to be set for a two-year deal with the Spurs, after spending the past two years as a member of the Denver Nuggets. He was originally drafted No. 12 overall (2012) by the Utah Jazz, and averaged 8.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.5 minutes last season.
