Why Markieff Morris may not finish the season with the Los Angeles Lakers

2. The Los Angeles Lakers can easily replace Markieff Morris’ role

Markieff Morris does not offer the team something that other players cannot offer. It would be one thing if he was playing poorly but was playing a role on the team that is not easily replaceable by the players on the trade market.

Think Rajon Rondo last year. Yes, he was great in the NBA Playoffs, but he was really bad in the regular season, so much so that almost every Laker fan wanted him to be traded. However, finding that second ball-handler and facilitator was hard. Derrick Rose was the only real option and that would not have been an improvement.

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Morris is a stretch four/wing that can play small-ball center in today’s NBA. He is meant to be a two-way player, which is not what he has been at all this season. In today’s NBA there are so many of these role players and they always seem to be available at the trade deadline.

Heck, the Lakers are in the trade market for a player that would have the exact same role as Morris on this team and would do so better — P.J. Tucker. Tucker is exactly the role player that Morris is yet the Lakers are in the market for him.

Why? Because Morris is playing poorly and Tucker would provide more quality depth. If the Lakers bring in Tucker, or anyone else with a similar skill set, Morris would not have a role in the rotation at all.

But why not keep him for depth? Depth is a great thing and he would be a better option than Jared Dudley in case of emergency. There is a reason for not keeping Morris as this backend depth piece that only plays in case of emergency, like Dudley.