OKC Thunder season review: Why the addition of Markieff Morris did not work

During his OKC Thunder tenure forward Markieff Morris was underwhelmed with his role. Were his complaints valid, or out of line?

After the OKC Thunder stood pat at the trade deadline, it was clear the team would seek to improve via the buyout market. Initially, their top-target was Wesley Matthews. Instead, he chose the Indiana Pacers, due to the absence of Victor Oladipo. So the Thunder moved into the bidding war for Markieff Morris and won.

Morris did not provide much for the Thunder. His shooting was inconsistent, his defense questionable, and he often appeared winded, although the latter is likely related to Morris being sidelined for over two months because of a severe neck injury.

During his exit interview, Morris seemed offended at his lack of playing time, his brother Marcus also scoffed at Keef’s minor role on the Thunder. Here’s the reality of the situation Morris was not reliable enough to garner more floor time.

Oklahoma City added Morris to replace Patrick Patterson. For that reason, Morris’ shooting accuracy was vital, because the Thunder desperately desired a stretch four. In the end, Morris edged out Patterson by three-tenths of a percentage point in 3-point accuracy, not much of an upgrade.

Little Positives

Morris’ tenure was not entirely negative. His toughness and demeanor were bright spots. Morris was unhappy with his role, but he waited until his exit interview to air his grievances. Any player who is willing to suppress their own feelings for the betterment of the team will always be well-respected within a locker room.

As for Keef’s on-court presence, he provided a much-needed toughness off the bench. Steven Adams may be the toughest player in the NBA, but when he takes a seat, his Thunder can appear soft on the front line. That’s where Morris came in handy. His disposition added a nice wrinkle to Oklahoma City’s cast of characters.