The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Jaylen Morris
SG - 6’5, 185lbs - 22 years old - 1 year of experience
Earning his way in the hard way, Morris, who started the season in G-League tryouts, got onto the Hawks’ roster through his enthusiasm for defence. Not the biggest wing player, not the most athletic and never a shooter, Morris came out of Division 2; all those things in tandem made an NBA contract quite the long shot. But he managed it through knuckling down and taking to the less glamorous aspects of the job.
Defensively, he is not the possession-winner of more highlight-tastic defensive players. He is however dogged and often in the way, rotating well, taking on challenges, and big and athletic enough to make an impact. He has some strength, can switch and rotate, and seems to know that this is what will make or break his professional career.
The reason it will do so is because of Morris’s limited offensive skill. Never a shooter, not even at Molloy, Morris is also not an average playmaker, slasher, handler or creator at the NBA level, and at least one of them must come to fruition. As of right now, he has flashed some defence in limited minutes on a bad team - it is a start, but more work is needed in his skills development.
Perhaps in a race for a roster spot with Cleveland, Morris is perhaps disadvantaged by being smaller, less athletic, and less potent offensively. But he does defend better - whereas Cleveland is more about potential on that end, Morris brings results already. Now, we will see what more he can do to add to that.
Player Plan: Second unguaranteed season at the minimum salary remaining. It will be tough to make it back, but if he hits enough shots, take another look.
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SG - 6’5, 185lbs - 22 years old - 1 year of experience
Earning his way in the hard way, Morris, who started the season in G-League tryouts, got onto the Hawks’ roster through his enthusiasm for defence. Not the biggest wing player, not the most athletic and never a shooter, Morris came out of Division 2; all those things in tandem made an NBA contract quite the long shot. But he managed it through knuckling down and taking to the less glamorous aspects of the job.
Defensively, he is not the possession-winner of more highlight-tastic defensive players. He is however dogged and often in the way, rotating well, taking on challenges, and big and athletic enough to make an impact. He has some strength, can switch and rotate, and seems to know that this is what will make or break his professional career.
The reason it will do so is because of Morris’s limited offensive skill. Never a shooter, not even at Molloy, Morris is also not an average playmaker, slasher, handler or creator at the NBA level, and at least one of them must come to fruition. As of right now, he has flashed some defence in limited minutes on a bad team - it is a start, but more work is needed in his skills development.
Perhaps in a race for a roster spot with Cleveland, Morris is perhaps disadvantaged by being smaller, less athletic, and less potent offensively. But he does defend better - whereas Cleveland is more about potential on that end, Morris brings results already. Now, we will see what more he can do to add to that.
Player Plan: Second unguaranteed season at the minimum salary remaining. It will be tough to make it back, but if he hits enough shots, take another look.
