Sources: Morris may renege on Spurs for Knicks

2:03 pm | July 9, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:

5:42 PM ET

Free agent forward Marcus Morris could abandon a two-year, $20 million agreement with the San Antonio Spurs and accept a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, league sources tell ESPN.

Morris’ agreement with the Spurs includes a player option, but the Knicks suddenly have the salary cap space to make him a more substantial first-year offer on a deal, league sources said.

To use the full $9.3 million midlevel exception on Morris, the Spurs traded forward Davis Bertans to the Washington Wizards and reworked an original two-year, $13M agreement with DeMarre Carroll to make it a three-year, $21 million contract.

If Morris backs out of a Spurs deal, there will be some roster carnage left in his wake.

The salary cap space for the Knicks is suddenly available because the team and free agent forward Reggie Bullock are no longer executing a two-year, $21 million deal, and instead are reworking the terms down to a lower financial commitment, league sources said.

Agent David Bauman and the Knicks are re-evaluating Bullock’s fitness to play a full season in 2019-20.

In a brief conversation with ESPN, Bauman was complimentary of how the Knicks handled an emerging situation with Bullock, citing how accommodating ownership, front office and medical staff had been with the player’s situation.

“First-class throughout,” Bauman said.

Bullock hadn’t yet signed the original offer made by the Knicks near the opening of NBA free agency — which includes a team option on the second year — sources said.

Morris, 29, averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Boston Celtics in his seventh NBA season.

The Knicks already signed three power forwards in free agency, including Julius Randle, Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson.