Randolph Morris currently sporting Celtic green?
Morris blocking rookie of the year, Kevin Durant, during summer league ‘07
Their chances are looking pretty bleak; it is almost a given that neither center Randolph Morris, nor guard Fred Jones, will be back as Knicks this November. Read here as Morris reflects on his time with the Knicks and, more recently, his experience in a Boston Celtics summer camp.
Despite poor effort and conditioning from Knick centers Eddy Curry and Jerome James, for some reason coach Isiah Thomas never seemed to have any use for Randolph Morris last season.
Similarly, for about 85% of the season, Wilson Chandler was wasting his talent riding the pine along with Morris instead of getting some PT ahead of obviously struggling players such as Quentin Richardson.
Despite the dust they each collected, neither player was ever sent to the NBA D-league for player development, or just to flat-out keep their rhythm as basketball players.
It was only when Morris’ former rival and current all-NBA first team selection Dwight Howard called out Isiah Thomas on not playing Morris during a road game in Orlando, that Morris began to see a little daylight from the prolonged solitary confinement. By then it was far too late, however.
Now unsigned, Morris is fighting just to stay in the league.
I’m not losing any sleep that Morris is gone.I didn’t see anything in his play that would make me want to spend money,or time on him.Maybe he needed time to develop and should have been in the D-League.I wish him well. I’m only concerned about rebuilding the Knicks,and wondering what trades,moves the big brass is going to make.Wondering are we going to trade Lee(who Walsh doesn’t want to re-sign to big long term $$$)and what we could get for him.
End of an enigmatic era.
DLT Knicks,
I see Randolph Morris a little differently. He played just as well as Chandler in the summer pro league at this time last year. Had he developed during this past season while we were losing big, that would have been the smart thing to do.
The way it stands right now, we still need defensive minded players in the front court, and this guy who used to keep up with Dwight Howard probably could have helped in the right circumstances. If not last year as a project, then this year as a more experienced vet.
The way Isiah left him, the kid is still a rookie, despite going on his third year in the league.
I hold an opposing view to that of DLT with regard to Morris in general and our young woefully underdeveloped players in particular.
Morris’s statements about the immensely unfair expectations placed on a rookie reserve in only a limited window of playing time and in an atmosphere of organizational mismanagement that neglected rookied devlopment for the likes of lazy, underperforming, or poorly motivated is sadly enough not just the story of Randolph Morris. That story is the story of many of the former rookies, and now 2nd and 3rd year Knick players whose NBA careers and situation with the Knicks organization is now in question.
In a semi tragic/comedic way I looked at the phenomena as a form of wayward rookie hazing program. I thin that program was born of a mix of Thomas’s reticence to place his much lauded draft picks in positions to succeed or at the least develop, Thomas’s reluctance to provide his younger players alternative forms of development in the NBADL, and Thomas’s ego centered policy of justifying the players he obtained in his failed signings and trades.
If Morris develops and become a contributor to team like Celtics I will be happy for him.
Last point is that the expectations in NY are unfair and wildy exagerrated. If one doesn’t shine in the few minutes or moments afforded the player is bum. NY lacks patience, that was evident in the booing of Gallinari and in the fixation with the quick fix megatrades that many, including I talk about. It is also suggested in the whole 2010 koolaid that Donny and the MSG imbed is pitching to the Knicks’s citizenry, because dare someone tell a Knick fan that rebuilding from this mess might take more than 3 years.
KnicksD/O&B
I understand where you guys are coming from about Morris Randolph.Again,as I said in #1 “Maybe he needed time to develop and should have been in the D-League.”
But,based on what he showed in the few games he played in a Knick uniform,clearly he wasn’t ready.
The question is:How much time does he need?
I look at other young players like,Detroit’s Jason Maxsell(2 years),Utah’s Paul Millsap(2 years),Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao(3 years),these players who were not high draft picks and have spent about the same amount of time in the NBA as Morris Randolph.But they show energy and effort,and can impact the game in 5 minutes off the bench.
After playing 3-4 years of college,summer league and not mention the training camp and practices,I did not see the basic skills,fire or desire in his play that would make him a “difference maker”type of player.
Part of that could have been playing with a team with no leaders,and with players who didn’t seem to care if they would win or lose.
I do agree that some good role-players has left The Knicks before given a chance to shine(Matt Barnes,Ime Udoka) and are now shining with other teams.
Morris Randolph may turn into a good player in this league.
The questions are:
Does he have it in him?
And……
How long will it take to develop?
But, I think it was the right move to let him walk.
DLT
I think the bit you said about the lack of leadership and direction on the team in general, had alot to do with reticent our rooks played.
No one to rally them! No one to emulate or mold their approach to the game after.
I hate to say it… but good riddance to Marbury when and if he goes.
I might say the same about Curry if he continues pouting and not playing b/c of Z-Bo’s presence.
I will certainly say that about Jerome “Bench Fixture” James!
O&B
I have always said the leadership isn’t there. There are no leaders on this team.The leader,most of the time,is your best player.That was suppose to be Marbury.I’m happy Steph if leaving too.
The other thing we are missing is,who was working with Randolph Morris during the year to help develop him? Ewing was working with DHoward in Orlando.Herb was the only former center on the coaching staff.However,Herb was never a good shot blocker or strong rebounder.So,who was helping this kid?
Yup Yup!
DLT
That’s another pisser, that the Knicks aren’t working to get Ewing out of Orlando.
Believe me you do not want Howard developing a good offensive game.