Darius Morris: video breakdown
Draft Express video (with missing audio in some spots) of Darius:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Darius-Morris-Video-Breakdown-3740
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EDIT: STWAP (Sorry, this was already posted. I just noticed it in mgo.licio.us.)
being drafted by the Heat? They need a PG and he's projected low 1st high 2nd round. I figure they can't afford to sign Barea and might pass on AI. He could even get taken by the Mavs because Barea is pricey now, Kidd will be 39, and Terry is a borderline bench player. It'd be awesome for Darius, going late means you get picked by a team that wins.
I'd love for Darius to be picked by the Heat, but I think they'd prefer to sign a veteran. Chalmers has a bright future once he can mature mentally, and he really just needs guidance. Bibby is too inconsistent to be that veteran. That's definitely the Heat's first priority though (that and a true center maybe).
They are looking at point guards who can bring the ball up and be dead-eye shooters. Morris is a more traditional point guard who does well with the ball in his hands, driving, kicking, and scoring.
Dallas, LA, Portand, Houston, and Indiana seem like teams that would be very interested in him. San Antionio as well if they are thinking of trading Parker. It would be great if he went to Dallas or LA as their aging PG's will be out of the league soon. Unfortunately LA doesn't have a first round pick.
[and they might]...
I have a hard time seeing Darius in that system. Kobe is already their primary ball handler, as much as they have one, and so they need their other guard to be either a cutter/slasher (S.Brown) or a good shooter (Fisher), and most importantly a good defender.
Darius would be OK, but as you said, his main asset is being a traditional point that has the ball in his hands - thats not what LA needs to add. They need some athleticism, some shooting, not a floor general.
Miami - awful fit for what you said. NYK - need to be able to shoot. Portland - already have a similar guy in Miller, they need shooters.
Agree though - that Houston, and Indiana would be excellent fits (I think him and Collison would make a nice contrast).
Where I'd like to see him land more than anywhere else would be OKC. Maynor's a good player but that team could really use a pure distributor when Westbrook is out and Morris could be a great complemen.
Fact is that Morris is a pretty good prospect and hopefully would do fine as a backup on pretty much any team...
anymore now that Phil Jackson is gone IMO. They need a true PG who can distribute the ball.
I fully expect Kobe to push hard for retaining elements of the Triangle. Having said that, expect many more isolation plays for Bryant, as former Piston coach and Cleveland assistant John Kuester has reunited with Mike Brown in LA.
I would agree with you in the past but as Kobe gets older they will need some else to breakdown the defense and be a defensive stopper at more than one position. Kobe is also a very good set shooter and I can see him evolving like Paul Pierce evolved where he is more and more comfortable with a pure pg handling the ball more. Also LA will be running much more pick and roll now with Brown as coach and they don't have a PG on their roster that can do that right now. I could see LA buying one of Chicago's picks to snag Morris if he is still around.
I will be shocked to see him slip out of the first round.
there are plenty of teams that would love to have a 6'5" PG.
A first round contract is essential here. As for speculation about the Heat, they don't have a first-rounder. Here is a pleasant outlier, though: 14th to Houston.
Houston has no clear cut starter anywhere but SG and PF with Kevin Martin and Luis Scola, respectively. Scola's already 31, and even a healthy Yao shouldn't deter them from drafting a big. They should go BPA, and I can't see that being Darius Morris at #14. Besides, I'm a big Goran Dragic fan, who is another 6'4"+ PG, shooting near 40% from three and shows flashes of great athleticism for Houston.
NBADraft.net is an abortion. They've always been questionable, but now they are barely even updated and you have to wonder how the site is being managed. They are so far off other mocks on some players (Morris being one of them) it isn't even funny. #14 for him is ludicrous.
DraftExpress.com is a far higher quality, more thorough site. They currently have DM going #35 to Sacramento.
but I think Portland would be a great place for him
He'd be tutored by the guy that a lot of people compare him to (Andre Miller), on a winning team, and back on teh west coast
Darius would also be a great fit with the...
...Milwaukee Bucks. They don't have a long-term backup for Brandon Jennings, who is a volume-shooter. A change of pace quarterback-type would be good for this squad.
...Los Angeles Lakers. Derek Fisher's on his last legs and they need to phase in a PG and SG while Kobe declines. Shannon Brown should be one half of the equation, as his athleticism makes up for Morris' lack of, and he has adequate range, good for a three a game. If they keep any elements of the triangle, a cerebral PG is an even bigger must.
...Chicago Bulls. I've long been of the opinion that they need to play Derrick Rose off the ball more until they fill their void at SG (Keith Bogans, seriously?). Rose has improved his deep ball to the point that he could get away with playing extensive minutes at the two as a bona fide primary option.
...Golden State Warriors. Both Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis are SGs in a PG's body. If they can't move Ellis, this could be a solid three-guard rotation in the long-run.
...Detroit Pistons! Austin Daye, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva are all deep threats. Jonas Jerebko will spend a lot of time at PF, where he has a quickness advantage, and if we were to ever go uptempo it'd be wise to have a point guard with a high basketball IQ.
...if they move Ellis. Could be a nice pairing with Curry.
IMO - Darius needs to be around other people that can shoot with range, because he can't do it yet.
Pistons - I'm not sure anyone on their roster other than Monroe is worth keeping, so pretty much anyone fits to a team thats stuck in the pre-rebuild stage until they're honest with themselves.
Id love for my Bulls to take him. Bogans is a beast defensively and can hit the occasional three, but that's bench material not starting. Morris has the size to be able to play the 2 and can be a better scoring option that Bogs/Brewer/Korver(ick)