Markieff Morris is now a SUN

[Mainstreet]

He could be similar to Drew Gooden.

 

[Bufalay]

For comparison here are some college stats

Rodney Rodgers 19.3ppg and 7.9rpg
Kurt Thomas 28.9ppg 14.6rpg
Drew Gooden 19.8ppg 11.4rpg
Markieff Morris 13.6pg 8.3rpg
Robin Lopez 10.7ppg 5.7rpg

 

[perivolaki]

Markieff seems more like a Kurt Thomas type of player. Not a hugely gifted athlete but very fundamentally sound with developed offensive and defensive skills. Kurt was 6'7.75" (wo shoes, 221), when drafted.

He will likely be a solid, servicable, safe pick--not an all-star but potential role-playing starter. That's probably not bad coming out of this draft.

I agree with this.

One reason I think he has a chance to be successful is that he knows his role. So many players come into the league thinking they can do things they can't, like a past pick like Earl Clark.

I think MM knows what he was brought here to do and thats put a body on people and rebound. When he gets the ball in the paint he will try to throw it down. This is his game.

Players that know there limitations and know their role are often very successful in fullfiling that limited role. They are often more successful than many more talented players that have difficulty finding their roles.

I agree with an earlier poster that says that MM will create space. He is a chippy player that will use his body a lot.

Having watched him a lot hes the type of guy you love if hes on your team but simply hate when he plays for the other team.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I agree with this.

One reason I think he has a chance to be successful is that he knows his role. So many players come into the league thinking they can do things they can't, like a past pick like Earl Clark.

I think MM knows what he was brought here to do and thats put a body on people and rebound. When he gets the ball in the paint he will try to throw it down. This is his game.

Players that know there limitations and know their role are often very successful in fullfiling that limited role. They are often more successful than many more talented players that have difficulty finding their roles.

I agree with an earlier poster that says that MM will create space. He is a chippy player that will use his body a lot.

Having watched him a lot hes the type of guy you love if hes on your team but simply hate when he plays for the other team.

Good post, hope you're right.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

I agree with this.

One reason I think he has a chance to be successful is that he knows his role. So many players come into the league thinking they can do things they can't, like a past pick like Earl Clark.

I think MM knows what he was brought here to do and thats put a body on people and rebound. When he gets the ball in the paint he will try to throw it down. This is his game.

Players that know there limitations and know their role are often very successful in fullfiling that limited role. They are often more successful than many more talented players that have difficulty finding their roles.

I agree with an earlier poster that says that MM will create space. He is a chippy player that will use his body a lot.

Having watched him a lot hes the type of guy you love if hes on your team but simply hate when he plays for the other team.

All this is true, but he is perfectly capable of hitting the mid to long range jumper (out to the college 3), which adds a bit of versatility and opens the floor. Here is my take.

He will be:
Solid position rebounder
Good position defender that will make opponents work for points
Capable of hitting the open shot which will keep his defender from sagging off
Will not make alot of mistakes

He will not be:
Capable of creating his own shot
Shot blocker
Flashy dunker
Fast, blow by the defender, slasher

Again, more Kurt Thomas than Amare. He has been well-coached by one of the best big man coaches out there today--Danny Manning.

So we are still looking for the star player.

 

[Superbone]

I'm really bummed we don't get to watch him play in the summer league.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Oh good grief. Markieff's agent is Tony Dutt.

For those of you that dont remember, Dutt was Antonio McDyess and Nick VanExel's agent during one infuriating winter long ago.

 

[Irish]

Hard to see any way Dutt could hurt us except by having MM hold out. But with the NBA taking away his early money in a lockout, I'm not concerned.

 

[Superbone]

Hard to see any way Dutt could hurt us except by having MM hold out. But with the NBA taking away his early money in a lockout, I'm not concerned.

Hold out for what? Isn't there a rookie scale and it's cut and dried?

 

[elindholm]

Hold out for what? Isn't there a rookie scale and it's cut and dried?

Yes. Technically, there is a "standard" amount for each pick and then the contract can start at any amount between 80% and 120% of that standard amount. But in practice, teams just offer the 120% as a matter of course, so there's nothing to negotiate.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Hard to see any way Dutt could hurt us except by having MM hold out. But with the NBA taking away his early money in a lockout, I'm not concerned.

I just hate the guy.

 

[perivolaki]

All this is true, but he is perfectly capable of hitting the mid to long range jumper (out to the college 3), which adds a bit of versatility and opens the floor. Here is my take.

He will be:
Solid position rebounder
Good position defender that will make opponents work for points
Capable of hitting the open shot which will keep his defender from sagging off
Will not make alot of mistakes

He will not be:
Capable of creating his own shot
Shot blocker
Flashy dunker
Fast, blow by the defender, slasher

Again, more Kurt Thomas than Amare. He has been well-coached by one of the best big man coaches out there today--Danny Manning.

So we are still looking for the star player.

I pretty much agree with your assessment. I think for me I will have to see him hit that outside shot to believe it.

From what I have seen of him I think he will get most of his points in the paint from offensive rebounds or close in passes from Nash.

I do think he has the capability to develop some offensive game. I think he may be able to hit a wide open jumper and he has the strength to develop a low post game.

 

[JS22]

I'll admit that I don't follow college basketball all that much. But from what I've seen, Morris looks like he could be a Kurt Thomas with 3pt range.

If he can grab some boards, get in some faces, and space the floor a little it will be a great pick in a weak draft.

 

[PhxGametime]

I'm not sure Markieff knows his role, I read somewhere he expects to have a better career than Derrick Williams...

 

[Cheesebeef]

I guess he could be more like a Cliff Robbinson or Rasheed Wallace. Can shoot and play D. If we can work on his hops he could be a Derick Favors type. I just hope he doesn't fall in love with the 3.

wha? Rasheed and Cliff were both very good athletes and Sheed wasn't just 6'11, but he had ridiculously long arms. Markieff is pretty much nothing like those guys. Marcus seems like he could be a Uncle Cliffy type player but not Markieff.

and what does "work on his hops" mean? either a player has elite explosion or he doesn't.

 

[AzStevenCal]

wha? Rasheed and Cliff were both very good athletes and Sheed wasn't just 6'11, but he had ridiculously long arms. Markieff is pretty much nothing like those guys. Marcus seems like he could be a Uncle Cliffy type player but not Markieff.

and what does "work on his hops" mean? either a player has elite explosion or he doesn't.

That can't be true. Why would ESPN magazine and the NBA channel keep trying to sell me these video packages that will improve every aspect of my game? I may be 57 years old but when I finish watching this last DVD, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to jump out of the gym like they promise. There was a time when I thought I just needed to buy the right shoes but apparently there's a little more to it than that.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm not sure Markieff knows his role, I read somewhere he expects to have a better career than Derrick Williams...

Well, I certainly don't think that's a bad thing. It takes more than confidence to excel at something but it pretty much doesn't happen without it.

Steve

 

[Joe Mama]

wha? Rasheed and Cliff were both very good athletes and Sheed wasn't just 6'11, but he had ridiculously long arms. Markieff is pretty much nothing like those guys. Marcus seems like he could be a Uncle Cliffy type player but not Markieff.

and what does "work on his hops" mean? either a player has elite explosion or he doesn't.

yeah, I didn't get those two comparisons. I mean I guess they were both good defenders who could shoot the outside shot, but as you pointed out they were both a lot bigger than him. Let's not forget that Rasheed Wallace was only slightly smaller than Tim Duncan and probably had as much potential. He just didn't have the work ethic and/or demeanor of a Tim Duncan. He was a lot more athletic than Morris and add at least 6 inches more on a standing reach.

Again, we should all be happy if Morris ends up being a solid backup 4. If he's starting it's going to be on a bad team.

Joe

 

[JCSunsfan]

yeah, I didn't get those two comparisons. I mean I guess they were both good defenders who could shoot the outside shot, but as you pointed out they were both a lot bigger than him. Let's not forget that Rasheed Wallace was only slightly smaller than Tim Duncan and probably had as much potential. He just didn't have the work ethic and/or demeanor of a Tim Duncan. He was a lot more athletic than Morris and add at least 6 inches more on a standing reach.

Again, we should all be happy if Morris ends up being a solid backup 4. If he's starting it's going to be on a bad team.

Joe

I don't get the Cliffy comparison. He was not that good of a rebounder. He was really a big three.

Sheed I do get. The skill set is similar, the athleticism is not.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Sheed I do get. The skill set is similar, the athleticism is not.

how do you get the sheed comparison when you just said the athleticism's not the same. that was one of sheed's best assets... that and his ridiculously long arms, which Markieff doesn't have either.

 

[Joe Mama]

I don't get the Cliffy comparison. He was not that good of a rebounder. He was really a big three.

Sheed I do get. The skill set is similar, the athleticism is not.

I am sorry. Just because the guy can play solid defense and hit an open jumper that doesn't mean their skill set is similar. If Wallace was in this draft he would have been hands down the number one pick. People would have been fighting to get to the top of the draft to get him.

Don't get me wrong. I would love it if Morris exceeded all of our expectations, but let's get these expectations reasonable. I can't even think of a good player to compare him to because I can't think of anybody with his length, athleticism, and skill set that I can get at all excited about. By the way, having watched a little bit of video on the guy and looked at the numbers I could find he doesn't look at all unathletic to me. I would say he has average athleticism for his size.

Solid backup... that's his ceiling IMO.

 

[JCSunsfan]

how do you get the sheed comparison when you just said the athleticism's not the same. that was one of sheed's best assets... that and his ridiculously long arms, which Markieff doesn't have either.

Sheed was a defender, and rebounder with a remarkable outside shot. He was a highly skilled player. Yes, he also had the athleticism.

Again, the similarity is the set of basketball skills only. Thats all I was saying. Grief.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am sorry. Just because the guy can play solid defense and hit an open jumper that doesn't mean their skill set is similar. If Wallace was in this draft he would have been hands down the number one pick. People would have been fighting to get to the top of the draft to get him.

Don't get me wrong. I would love it if Morris exceeded all of our expectations, but let's get these expectations reasonable. I can't even think of a good player to compare him to because I can't think of anybody with his length, athleticism, and skill set that I can get at all excited about. By the way, having watched a little bit of video on the guy and looked at the numbers I could find he doesn't look at all unathletic to me. I would say he has average athleticism for his size.

Solid backup... that's his ceiling IMO.

To me, solid, role playing starter is his ceiling. Thats not really high expectations.

 

[Griffin]

A lot of arguing over a player who, in a better draft, would likely have been a late first-round, early second-round selection. I think at this point if we get anything out of Morris, we should be happy. He is not a typical lottery pick, imo.

 

[elindholm]

Maybe people missed this before:

Outside shot, not much mid-range game, some post ability, rebounder, questionable defense, mediocre athleticism, relatively strong -- sounds like a smaller Troy Murphy to me.