Darius Morris joins San Antonio's summer league team

Submitted by BlueCube on

Morris will spend July trying to latch onto with San Antonio, which already features point guard Tony Parker, but recently learned key free agent point guard Patty Mills will miss up to seven months with a shoulder injury. Link

Morris will spend July trying to latch onto with San Antonio, which already features point guard Tony Parker, but recently learned key free agent point guard Patty Mills will miss up to seven months with a shoulder injury.

Hopefully he will be able to take advantage of the situation.

WolvinLA2

July 8th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^

He should have - this is exactly how I expected his career to go.  He's not a for-sure NBA player.  

What's interesting is that for as big fo a recruit Morris was for us and for how much of a star he was while he was here, if he would have come 2 or more years later, he would have been a solid substitute and nothing more.  

WolvinLA2

July 8th, 2014 at 6:46 PM ^

Wrong.  Burke was committed before he declared.  Burke was recruited to be our back up PG behind Morris, which is why Burke had no back-up his freshman year other than Akunne.

ijohnb

July 8th, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^

Morris in his second year would have started for us next year. Not all college talent translates to the NBA. Exhibit 1-Christian Laetner, Exhibit 2 - Mateen Sleeves. I agree he made the wrong decision, but he was not a less than player. Darius was a baller and I think he will find a place in the show at some point.

TheLastHarbaugh

July 9th, 2014 at 4:19 AM ^

I would say Darius made the right decision in terms of going pro when he did. He pretty much maxed his potential while at Michigan, and maybe his potential was just not that great. Staying any longer than he did would have probably been detrimental to his NBA hopes. His biggest problem is that he really doesn't have a single definable NBA skill.

He is average at scoring around the rim.

He has been an average 3 point shooter for his career.

He's not super athletic or a particularly adept defender.

He's not going to get you steals or play the passing lanes well.

He's not good at getting to the free throw line, in addition to not being a very good free throw shooter when he does get there.

He has a horrible mid-range game.

His passing also hasn't translated to the NBA as he has a higher turnover percentage than assist percentage and he averages just 1.5 assists for every turnover, so you can't trust him to run an offense.

If he wants to earn a roster spot somewhere he's probably going to have to become a good 3 point shooter and drastically improve his ball handling/decision making.

He also has size for the point guard position, so if he developed a post up game a la Chauncey Billups or Andre Miller, other bigger points who weren't necessarily the most athletic but used size to their advantage, that would help a great deal too. 

Can he do any of those things? That remains to be seen.

Marley Nowell

July 8th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^

I wish him good luck but I can't see him sticking. The two things the Spurs value above all else is passing and outside shooting. Darius is great at the former but the latter is not his forte.

nowicki2005

July 8th, 2014 at 8:16 PM ^

Really fit well with them. He doesn't play good defense, doesn't stretch the floor and he passes but keeps the ball in his hands too much. honestly, he's not an nba player. If I were a GO I wouldn't want him.

Michiganguy19

July 8th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

Darius needs another shot in the league, but not sure if San Antonio is the best fit as others have stated above.

That said he could be a talent they are willing to try to develop.

TheLastHarbaugh

July 9th, 2014 at 12:14 AM ^

Summer League has been fun so far. 

Mitch had 18 and 13 on Monday with 2 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal going against Mason Plumlee. He was running the floor, leading fast breaks, and even breaking guys down off the dribble, attacking the rim from the 3 point line. So that was a great performance from him. 

The Pistons are 3-0 thanks primarily to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has been the summer league MVP thus far. He hit a game winning 3 pointer tonight against the Heat and has been the NBA Summer League Player of the Day every day he's played. 

Through 3 games his averages have been 27.3pts 7.6rebs 1.6ast 2.6stl. His shooting splits 44%fg-39%3pt-87.5%ft. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for KCP.

Michigasling

July 11th, 2014 at 6:07 PM ^

Watched Mitch's last game and whoever the commentator was who wasn't Kendell Gill said he was most surprised about Mitch.  Apparently he's not just a non-shooter.  Lots of good highlights, and constant focus of the commentary.  Pretty much the same for Tim H. in the Knicks' first game.  Odd to think he was the rep for his first year's starters, interviewed about mentoring the Knicks' draft pick, with a highlight dish to the rookie for a dunk, with both enjoying it as if they were still in college.  (McGary looked so serious.  Except for his shoes.)

Tonight at 10:00 Eastern: Darius with the Spurs will be playing Stauskas with the Kings.  Still time for the one-day free trial stream on NBA.com.