Randolph Morris, 6-11 free agent playing for kentucky... Options

[TeaLeafReaderII]

Does he really project out that highly? In all seriousness, I can't imagine he improved his "draft position" that much with this year. In a situation like the Bulls, he would be a great pick up as they have no real solid depth at the big positions, but for most teams he would be down the bench as a 10th, 11th, or 12th man. I would be curious to hear what the interest level really is around the NBA for this kid.

Had he declared for the draft straight out of highschool, he would have been a lotto pick. He just played awful his first year in college and that cooled everyone on him so when he did declare no one took him. He has improved every season and is now playing where everyone has projected him to.
Just today Greg Anthony and Skip Bayless ( ) were saying he was a lottery level player.

[eddog2]

Kentucky is out of it... Pax, start bugging this kid. Even if Malik is healthy... Morris can take Martynas or Barrets roster spot.

I'm praying the Bulls get Morris. Even if he costs us between $1-4.5 million, he'll still be cheaper than most of the serviceable big men in the league.

[madisonsmadhouse]

Had he declared for the draft straight out of highschool, he would have been a lotto pick. He just played awful his first year in college and that cooled everyone on him so when he did declare no one took him. He has improved every season and is now playing where everyone has projected him to.
Just today Greg Anthony and Skip Bayless ( ) were saying he was a lottery level player.

Cool. Yeah, if we have a chance, we really need to go after this kid. If we could add him, plus a solid player with the Knicks pick, it would almost be like having two first rounders.

[TeaLeafReaderII]

Tubby Smith just resigned from UK and went to minnisota... I think this bodes well for the chance that Morris will turn pro.

[soxfan3530]

Tubby Smith just resigned from UK and went to minnisota... I think this bodes well for the chance that Morris will turn pro.

I heard that!!! Very excited as a Minnesota fan!!!

[madisonsmadhouse]

Tubby Smith just resigned from UK and went to minnisota... I think this bodes well for the chance that Morris will turn pro.

Yeah Morris is as good as gone now. Hopefully Pax is on the phone as we speak.

[HoofHearted]

Well, the Kinicks just signed him for 1.6 over two years. Bad move not to add this guy to our team, which needed a big who can score. Knicks strengthen their 4-5, which IMO, was already doing pretty good.

[madisonsmadhouse]

Well, the Kinicks just signed him for 1.6 over two years. Bad move not to add this guy to our team, which needed a big who can score. Knicks strengthen their 4-5, which IMO, was already doing pretty good.

I just saw this. fish!

[Wanne]

Anybody know if Pax was even interested? He had to have been. If not...shame on Pax. But on the flip side...it would have been a move for the future...not current team. Do you really think he would have contributed immediately...no.

[Balta1701-B]

Anybody know if Pax was even interested? He had to have been. If not...shame on Pax. But on the flip side...it would have been a move for the future...not current team. Do you really think he would have contributed immediately...no.

Nothing at all wrong with making a move for the future. You have to say this guy would be more useful than Barrett is to this team.

I still can't figure out how he goes to the team with the worst cap problems in the NBA.

[Wanne]

I still can't figure out how he goes to the team with the worst cap problems in the NBA.

Only a 2-year deal number one. Actually it's probably the smartest thing dumbass Isiah has done since he's been there. It's monopoly money to those numbnuts anyway. Isiah = Slueth II.

[TeaLeafReaderII]

HOW THE HECK COULD PAX LET THOMAS OUT MANUEVER HIM LIKE THIS. Morris has no shot at minutes on that team... and we had way more money to offer him. He was paid peanuts.

Barring a draft day miracle Morris is going to be way better then whoever we end up getting with the knicks pick. Pax just got schooled by the dumbest gm in the game.

[eddog2]

Yeah, that's a bunch of BS. Reports are that he got a 2 year $1.8 million deal. If that's true that's freakin rediculous. I could understand if Paxson wasn't looking to break the bank on the kid but for $900k a year you have to be kidding me. He's a first round pick and he's going to get $900k. Malik Allen makes more than that.

I'm starting to like Paxson and Skiles less and less. First he doesn't use P.J's expiring contract and now he lets Isiah screw him over. So the Knicks give us their first rounder and get ours but they get a top 10 big man anyway. What a way to save your job. Isiah's starting to look more and more like he knows what he's doing. He probably promised Morris big time playing time. Something the Bulls likely stayed away from.

Morris is pretty freakin smart for signing a 2 year deal. This year probably counts as the first year. So he'll play one full season and then hit the free agent market where he'll make big time money. I could see Paxson wanting to avoid that but you get him basically free for at least one year.

Oh well, there goes another year of "rebuilding" unless we pull of some magic around the draft or through a trade.

[truthandbasketba...]

Heres what ESPN are saying about the details -

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2809958

This really blows!!!

[TeaLeafReaderII]

Don't get me wrong. I understand there a lot of teams chasing 6'11" 260 pound guys. I just think none needed him quite as bad as the Bulls did. I wouldn't have cared if he went to the knicks for an absurd amount of money. But he is making what the 30th pick in the draft will make... this tells me Pax didn't pursue him hard at all. Hell, no GM did. Pax should have at least driven up the price.

I don't know. This just doesn't add up. He should have gotten more money. Maybe this kid just made a stupid business deal. I didn't hear anything about him signing with an agent. Maybe he likes Thomas and Thomas was able to take advantage of him.