Marcus Morris has elevated his game in a contract year

Marcus Morris' minutes are about the same this year as last season. He is on the floor for 25.4 MPG as opposed to 26.1 last year. The difference is in his production.


Last season, he ranked 92nd in points and 91st in boards. This year he is 83rd in points and 41st in rebounds. His shooting percentages last season were 41/35/79, and they are 49/48/86 this year. Last night against the Pistons he played 30 minutes, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds, with two assists and one steal.

He could not have chosen a better time to elevate his game, both for his cause and that of his team. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward started sluggishly while coming back from injuries, and other Celtics have faltered in specific games. But Mook has come through, and he has really shown his value.

Morris is in the final season of his team-friendly contract earning $5.4 million. That expiring contract might be enticing to another team in a trade, and it certainly is doubtful that Boston could afford what Marcus will be seeking for a contract next season. But if he keeps playing at this level, the Celtics could certainly use him in the playoffs. Stay tuned.

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