Rip City Project
Fansided

Portland Trail Blazers: 2020 Trade deadline wish list

By Stevie Cozens

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Marcus Morris Sr. #13 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Marcus Morris Sr. #13 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Marcus Morris and Taj Gibson

Marcus Morris and Taj Gibson could bring the edge this team needs if they are to compete for the seventh seed and beyond this year. Currently marooned on the terrible New York Knicks, both players provide a two-way presence that would benefit the Blazers.

Gibson has future salary for next year so could be an enticing expiring deal for a team trying to trade into 2021 cap space. While Morris is only on a one-year deal, he could be brought back next year if management decided to use cap space on him while cutting bait with Trevor Ariza.

Gibson also has a non-guarantee for next year, meaning the Blazers would have options depending on how they decide to play the luxury tax / cap space game.

The Blazers would also get to trade down by three and a bit million in salary this year, making the first round pick going out a little easier to stomach. This would mean they would only be one small move away from getting out of the luxury tax all together.

On the court, Morris would be a great combo between the three and the four. He competently defends strong wing players like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, while he is a plus shooter and finisher around the rim.

Though his 43.8 percent shooting will come back down to earth at some point, he is impressively doing this on the incompetent Knicks. He is also averaging a career high 19 points a game and has been shooting over 80 percent from the line for the second consecutive season. Morris came into the league at 22 and has improved his game each year. He would command a strong pay-day this season but the Blazers could potentially re-sign him if they were to make some cap manoeuvres.

Gibson is a great post defender who can play either the four or the five, he is still a plus when playing center and has great hands for a big man. He has an excellent post game and is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league.

This would be both a short-term and long-term move.

The Knicks would get off Gibson’s salary for next season, receive a first for Morris and then the expiring salary of Whiteside. Morris at age 30 doesn’t really fit the Knicks timeline. They are better to clear the books and look to take on bad salary next year to gain assets. Whiteside can help with rim protection and rebounding this season and they can use the first round pick to get another asset in next year’s draft.

There would obviously need to be some cap / roster plays made to fit Morris in longterm, but he would be a great player at the three moving forward for this team.