Markieff Morris has agreed to a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons.
Shortly after the surfacing of that report, The Athletic's Shams Charania added that the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as the frontrunners to sign the veteran forward, with the Toronto Raptors also expressing interest.
Just after that, Charania announced that Morris plans to sign with the Lakers.
Markieff Morris plans to sign with Lakers, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 21, 2020
Morris has played in 44 games for Detroit this season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game shooting 45.0% from the field and a career-high 39.7% from beyond the arc.
The signing gives the Lakers an offensive-minded forward who also brings toughness and physicality to the defensive end at 6-foot-8, 245 lbs.
The 2011 lottery pick has spent nine seasons in the league playing for the Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder and most recently, the Pistons.
Morris has appeared in 24 total playoff games in his career – two appearances with the Wizards and once with the Thunder – averaging 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks shooting 41.9% from the field and 31.6% from 3.
He's averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for his career, shooting 44.9% from the field and 34.5% from 3.
