Marcus Morris
Michael Dwyer/AP Photo

Marcus Morris opens up about his decision to sign with the New York Knicks despite already having an agreement with the San Antonio Spurs.

Marcus Morris is going to be one of the more experienced and proven players on the New York Knicks this season. Although he nearly signed with the San Antonio Spurs, a late medical issue with Reggie Bullock opened the door for the eight-year veteran to sign with the Knicks.

“I was under the impression that I didn’t have anything left. I thought at the time that the Spurs deal was all that I had,” Morris told Shams Charania of The Athletic. “The process wasn’t what I expected and it didn’t go the right way.”

Morris signed a one-year deal with the Knicks for $15 million after he had a two-year contract worth $20 million on the table from San Antonio.

What Morris did is unusual, but not unprecedented. Furthermore, he maintains that he and the Spurs are on solid terms. He mentions that the first thing he did when he had second thoughts was to call San Antonio’s front office to let them know.

It’s not a perfect situation and Morris could have handled it better. But the NBA is a business and until a player signs on the dotted line, he’s free to back out if he chooses.

Moreover, the decision for Morris was about more than just money. He mentioned that being closer to home, Philadelphia, played a role in his decision.

“[Gregg Popovich] and I had a long conversation about everything, not just basketball,” Morris said. “I have a lot of love for that organization and the opportunity they were giving me to put on a Spurs jersey. That was part of my process. He was the only coach I spoke to besides coach Fiz.

“Playing close to home, being from Philly, I get to see my family a lot.”

 
NY/NJ hoops reporter (NBA/NCAA) & sports betting writer for XL Media. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete.