Some people may have forgotten or simply don’t know that there were two additional players the Los Angeles Lakers acquired in last month’s Luka Doncic trade: Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber. Kleber, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man, injured his right foot and had to undergo surgery before being sent to the Lakers. It is possible he will be able to return to action sometime in April.
Morris played for the Lakers when they last won the NBA championship during the 2019-20 season. He was a late-season acquisition from the buyout market, and the 6-foot-9, 245-pound man provided Los Angeles with some key size and outside shooting during the playoffs.
According to his brother, former NBA player Marcus Morris, LeBron James pushed for him to be included in the Doncic trade. Marcus Morris made this comment while on Kevin O’Connor’s podcast.
“The part about it I don’t think a lot of people see is that ‘Kieff and Luka have a really good relationship. Like, a really good relationship,” he said. “So I think that they probably noticed that and they wanted Luka to feel better going to a new place where you have somebody who has been a teammate. Also Dorian Finney-Smith has been [Dončić’s teammate]. Maxi Kleber. So I think that really helped. Also ‘Kieff played there, so the Lakers really wanted him to come. ‘Bron asked for him to come.”
Of course, this contradicts earlier reports that claimed James had no idea the trade was being negotiated until it was completed.
In addition to his time with James and the Lakers a few years ago, Markieff Morris also spent a couple of seasons with the Dallas Mavericks playing alongside not only Doncic but also Finney-Smith, who came to L.A. in a separate trade in late December.
Markieff Morris, who is now 35 years of age, has played sparingly so far in his second stint with the Purple and Gold. He has appeared in seven games and is averaging 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 13.0 minutes a game.
