The Los Angeles Clippers just made some moves to improve their depth with the acquisitions of Marcus Morris Sr. and Isaiah Thomas in a three-team deal with the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards.
In the deal, the Knicks will send Jerome Robinson to the Wizards and send Maurice Harkless and a 2020 first-round draft pick to the Knicks.
The Knicks also will receive the right to swap first-round picks in 2021 with the Clippers (protected through the No. 4 pick), a 2021 second-round pick via Detroit and the Washington draft rights to 2018 second-round pick Issuf Sanon.
The Clippers plan to waive Thomas, which will leave them with two open roster spots. Their plan, according to league sources, is to look in the buyout market for a veteran playmaker.
For the Clippers, this adds some much needed shooting help in the form of Morris, who is having the best shooting season of his career. Morris, 30, is averaging 19.6 points a game and shooting 43.9 percent from three-point range – both career highs. Thomas is currently averaging 12.2 points and 3.6 assists a game with a career high 41.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Morris was also highly valued by the Lakers, who made a serious push for the veteran forward. However, the Knicks’ asking price of Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma – to make the money equal out – soured the Lakers’ desire for him.
Morris will be an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year, $15 million deal with New York last year.
Harkless, 26, is averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds this season in his first with the Clippers. He has started 38 of the 50 games he has appeared in with the Clippers. Robinson, 22, is averaging 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists for the Clippers this season.
