Chicago Bulls free-agent targets that have played for Billy Donovan: Markieff Morris
Like Patterson, Markieff Morris is a power forward that has significant NBA experience under his belt. On the court, though, they are two very different players.
Morris played under Donovan for a brief period of time during the 2018-19 NBA season. That year, Morris appeared in 24 games for the Thunder, including one start.
His numbers won’t blow you away under Donovan as he had more success the following year on the Detroit Pistons. After his stint in Detroit, Morris won a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers.
So, why is Morris someone the Bulls should consider at the right price? Primarily because he is a gifted offensive player. The Bulls could use Morris as a frontcourt scoring punch to replace some of what Lauri Markkanen brought to the team before, as Markkanen doesn’t appear to be returning to the organization.
At a much cheaper price, Morris could be great value for the Bulls frontcourt. He has a history of being a somewhat confrontational player, which is why the relationship with Donovan is very important.
Donovan would need to sign off on Morris and have a plan in place for him. If that happened, it is not difficult to see why Morris would be an asset to the coaching staff.
Not only is he a good scorer but he also brings some of the grit the Bulls are desperately lacking. That willingness to get under opponents’ skin, the desire to play physically and the understanding of backing up teammates would make Morris a welcome addition to the Bulls if he signed for the right price.
Morris would be a nice role player off the bench that compliments the rest of the roster, assuming the Bulls add the right pieces to make him the perfect fit.