Currently, the Los Angeles Lakers are favored to win the NBA Championship at +275 on DK Sportsbook. They are followed by the Milwaukee Bucks at +300 and then we have the Clippers are +333. The Clips made a splash today, acquiring Marcus Morris in exchange for Maurice Harkless. Does this deal sway their title hopes?
I like Harkless as a player. I think he’s an underrated asset as a capable three-point shooter who can also defend. He’s shooting 37% from three this season, which is likely higher than most people would think without looking it up. Even so, Morris looks to be a decent upgrade when looking at his numbers. He’s shooting a career-high 43.9% from three. It’s an incredibly impressive number especially when considering the limited amount of floor spacing he had in the Knicks’ offense.
Morris is going to get more open looks playing alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. On the defensive end, Morris has been able to hold his own this season. Despite playing on a horrendous Knicks’ team, he’s 13th amongst small forwards in defensive real plus-minus. Not only should he help the Clippers, there is value in keeping him from the Lakers, who are in need of perimeter shooting. I don’t view adding Morris as a massive title swinging move, but he slightly improves the Clippers’ odds.