According to Yahoo’s Marc Spears, the Pelicans have agreed to terms with free agent guard Anthony Morrow. The deal is reportedly for two years at the veteran minimum, with the second year being a player option.
Morrow split his time last year between the Hawks and the Mavericks, appearing in 41 games, averaging 4 ponints per game on 44% shooting, including 37% from deep. Prior to last season, however, Morrow was a regular rotation player in both Golden State and New Jersey, averaging over 12 points per game and nearly 27 minutes in his first four seasons. His rookie year in Golden State saw him average over 10 points in under 23 minutes per game, while leading the league in three-point percentage (46.7%). You can argue that he improved his second year, despite a small dip in his 3-point percentage, as he averaged 13 points and hit 45.6% of his three-point attempts on nearly twice as many attempts. He finished 5th in the league in percentage, and landed in the top 20 in three-pointers made, despite only playing 2000 minutes.
Those two terrific seasons landed him a three-year, $12 million contract from the Nets. His first year in New Jersey was very similar to what he produced in Golden State, but he started getting phazed out the following year, and then last summer the Nets traded his expiring contract to the Hawks in the deal that landed them Joe Johnson. The Hawks drafted a very similar player in John Jenkins last year, and as a result, Morrow was never considered a part of their future. On February 21st, the Hawks moved Morrow to the Dallas Mavericks for Dhantay Jones. Soon after arriving in Dallas, he suffered a hip strain injury and that nagging injury cost him a good part of the second half of the year.
Morrow is a fantastic spot-up shooter, who has produced more than 60% of his points off of spot-ups and transition jump shots. He is limited in the half court when it comes to creating for himself and others, but he won’t be asked to do that in New Orleans. He will be a spot-up shooter, likely positioning himself on the wings, where he has been deadly over his NBA career. The contract is a low risk, medium reward one for the Pelicans. It is no lock that he makes the regular rotation, but at the very least, he provides depth. Best case scenario, he is the floor spacer we need when Ryan Anderson isn’t on the floor. Or perhaps they can play together and really give the guards and Anthony Davis space in the paint.
Remember, Dell is following the San Antonio model. Last season, the Spurs had seven guards on their roster and played different guys depending on matchups. They also had plenty of depth for when injuries occured, which they did to both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. Morrow might be a regular in the second unit or he could be a guy that they could throw in when the offense is struggling and in need of a boost. Basically, he is a younger Roger Mason with more upside. Don’t expect much defense, playmaking, or rebounding, but if he gets hot, he can change games. And when you are giving a guy a minimum deal, that is all you can ask for.
35 responses to “New Orleans Pelicans Add Sharpshooter Anthony Morrow”
Love the signing. Vets min is a steal.
Why do i get the feeling we’ll be playing almost exclusively 3 guard lineups next year
Hooray for another sharpshooter! Step one: add guys who can attack the rim…Step two: open up their lanes by providing deadly shooters…will be interesting to see how and if he fits in, but at the minimum I guess it’s a no brainer…
42pts for Nets vs TWolves on 2/2/12…(eight 3’s)…6th year in the league upcoming…turns 28 in Sept.
Pelican Poster Woo! Light it up young fella!
Big fan of morrow from his GS years, cant wait to see him draining threes and we finally got a player that sports a headband!
i like
No real feelings on the signing I guess he will be this years Roger Mason but it also looks like we are targeting Greg Stemistma(I can’t spell it) according to multiple sources another move that I have no like or dislike for.
Boy, this team has changed owners,. names and now at least 5-6 roster slots. ALL an improvement and now, we’ll reverse our season record as a result. 55-27 anyone?
Shrimpnose
I believe doubling our win total from last year (27), is horribly unrealistic in one year and likely unpreceidented in NBA history.
504ever Shrimpnose “Hope is a waking dream “
You should start a pool on how many games until EG10 gets injured. The really cynical pool would be how many days before the season he gets injured.
Great sign especially with the low contract! Do you see us potentially signing anyone else? Maybe John Salmons if he’s amnestied? Greg Stiesma however you spell his name?
Rumors floating the Pels are close to signing Greg Stiesma the 6’11 center recently cut loose by Minnesota. Stiesma is a big body who can, rebound, block shots and defend, he is not much offensively, but does has some low post skills. If we can get him for the veteran minimum (or close to it) that would be quite a catch. I then think the roster would pretty much be done.
I think we would have to cut Lance Thomas
By my count if we signed him that would bring us right to 15 including Pierre and withey. Only have to lose someone if we sign another 3 or someone blows up in summer league / training camp
Hope we would keep lance. He’s not the end of the world as a stopgap 3, our thinnest position. Mostly he brings great work ethic, good system guy to have at the end of the bench
Where y’all seeing the stiemsma rumors? He would be a great get for us, big body, toughness, rim protection at an affordable price, solid backup c
Great signing, especially considering Kyle Corver signed for 24/4 and doesn’t bring much more to the table than morrow
Perfect signing! He was the only unrestricted free agent that I still wanted to get. Didn’t think we could get him on a vet minimum tho. Wish it was a 3 yr deal!
Another hint that EG is on his way out of town sooner rather than later…? Anyone?
I agree with you, mazonmafia. It seemed obvious to me that Eric Gordon would eventually be gone as soon as the Pelicans made the deal with Tyreke Evans. Now the Anthony Morrow signing makes it even more obvious. The Suns still covet Gordon, and everyone who pays any attention to the NBA (including the Phoenix front office) knows that Gordon is/was capable of doing much more on the court when you look at his effort (or lack thereof) during the Hornets’ penultimate season and then last year. A straight-up sign-and-trade deal for Marcin Gortat (which would enable Dell Demps to dump that terrible Gordon contract which the Suns forced the team to sign and would help Monty Williams rid himself of a petulant part-time player) seems like a no-brainer. The question is not if but when Gordon will be gone. He’s really Demps’ only primary poker chip left right now (Ryan Anderson isn’t going anywhere), and it’s hard to believe the dealer is done making improvements to the roster this offseason. Gortat as a complement to Anthony Davis at 1 & 2 would be an amazing front-line and would give Davis exactly the type of opportunity he needs to continue his development as PF (not as a center). And AD23 is clearly the franchise player of the future. Demps and Monty know this better than anyone else. All this talk about not really needing a true starting center because “the game has changed” would, I believe, make Monty Williams laugh.
mazonmafia So, an 11th man is signed for what basically is a one year, minimum deal, and that is evidence that the Pelicans will trade their max player?
Couldn’t disagree more. This was a depth signing with absolutely no risk. If Dell is going to move Gordon down the line, it will be because somebody blew him away with an offer, not because we have Anthony Morrow for one year on a minimum deal.
Morrow is like the relief pitcher who can come in and chuck some good pitches….a guy that serves a purpose……shoot the ball….spot him up and make a defender run out out to him…….
Michael McNamara Not at all. Its that fact that they now have 7 Guards on the roster. Jrue, Tyreke, Gordon, Rivers, Roberts, Morrow, and Jackson, three of which deserve to start and another that was the 10th overall pick last year and was showing signs of improvement before his injury.
Also, I don’t expect the hornets to put $40+ million to the guard position next yr. Something has got to give. It just seems like more writing on the wall.
That or monty is really into playing a ton of 3 guard sets, which is possible. Its trending (hate that term) in the nba, that’s for sure.
Team is really making a lot of moves.
nice pick up…but we need more. i like Gordon for Granger or Gordon for Gortat. we need 2 pick up Dalembert for cheap also.
plan A-
c-Dalembert pf-Davis sf-Granger sg-Evans pg-Holiday
plan B-
c-Gortat pf-Davis sf-Aminu sg-Evans pg-Holiday
Shooters what we need,
Shooters what we get.
Great job Dell!
BTW, I am in favor of KEEPING Gordon.
Perhaps he can stay healthy and stick around or at least increase his trade value.
Does this make Ryno more expendable and thereby make the Asik trade more likely?
reubes This is also one of my concerns.
The Stiemsma signing would seem to kill any chance of Asik coming here.
Morrow is a ‘splasher’…notice the addition of guys that can handle and get into the seams/lane/rim…..that forces defensive rotations…..that means open shooters can run to corners….hug outside the circle for kickouts….’you punish closeout defenders” with splashers or guys that can drive it at their noses….spread the floor…..rain a couple and defenses take Advil…..
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/m7ume2
He’s got a chip on his shoulder.
I like that.
Bum, Can’t guard a tree. Guard him and he is nothing. Just like Steve Novak