Paul George may have a familiar face join him in Philadelphia.
The 76ers are considering signing George’s former Clippers teammate and Philadelphia native Marcus Morris Sr. as part of their roster re-tool, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Morris reportedly has a host of suitors, including the Pistons, Spurs, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Heat, Mavericks and Hornets.
George is headlining the 76ers’ acquisitions after agreeing to a four-year, $212 million max contract early in free agency, and Philadelphia is now looking for ways to improve on the margins.
Morris played alongside George for four seasons with the Clippers from 2019-23, and having a familiar face could help George’s transition.
The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the former Kansas star would help provide some toughness, which seemed to be lacking during the 76ers’ first-round playoff loss to the Knicks this spring.
The Knicks ultimately seemed like the tougher team than the 76ers, consistently making critical plays in crunch time and rising to the occasion.
Ironically, the 76ers could have had Morris’ toughness last postseason but they traded him to the Spurs in the three-team trade that brought sharpshooter Buddy Hield to the City of Brotherly Love.
The Spurs promptly waived the veteran and he joined the Cavaliers for their playoff push, which ended with a second-round loss to the eventual champion Celtics.
Morris averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds last season spanning his time with the 76ers and Cavaliers.
“The 6-foot-8, 218-pounder’s high basketball IQ, selfless play, and Philly toughness were on full display here,” the paper reported. “He made the Sixers better not only with his play but with his leadership on and off the court.”
The 76ers have been one of the busier teams in the NBA during free agency, while they try to keep pace in the arms race that has engulfed the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia also retained wing Kelly Oubre and added veteran guard Eric Gordon and rebounding whiz Andre Drummond, while notably losing Tobias Harris to the Pistons.
The 76ers’ flurry of activity pushed them past the Knicks in 2024-25 title odds, with Philadelphia owning the fourth-best odds at FanDuel and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics.
