Markieff Morris has cleared quarantine and is ready to roll

The Los Angeles Lakers just got some more good news going into the NBA’s restart plan in the Orlando bubble.

With the NBA restart rapidly approaching, there were a lot of questions surrounding what exactly the Los Angeles Lakers were going to do in terms of its roster. Guard Avery Bradley said early on he would not be playing, and big man Dwight Howard was on the fence before eventually joining the team in Orlando.

As a result, the team brought in some reinforcements including JR Smith and Dion Waiters. Before the league went on hiatus, LA also acquired Markieff Morris from the Pistons. Morris previously tested positive for COVID-19, but looks to officially be a full go to rock the purple and gold in Orlando.

Although LA brought in Smith and Waiters to handle backcourt duties in the absence of Bradley and a now hurt Rajon Rondo, the Lakers were lacking depth on the front line. Bringing in Morris after his buyout in Detroit looks to reassure the Lakers’ bench.

What does Markieff Morris give the Los Angeles Lakers?

Everyone knows about the damage that stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis can do starting at the forward slots. Off the bench though, LA has been looking for its spark. Kyle Kuzma has been on and off all year, and Jared Dudley is good for spot minutes and a veteran presence.

Morris adds another dimension to the Lakers’ roster as a whole. A grit and grind kind of player similar to his brother Marcus with the rival Clippers, Markieff can play both forward spots both offensively and defensively. He can take on the responsibility of guarding a team’s best wing option while also creating his own shot off the bounce.

In Detroit, Morris was close to a 40 percent shooter on the 3-ball and has been right around 34.5 percent for his career. An Achilles heel that LA has been trying to work on all year is adding more shooting. In the process, the Lakers found a quintessential 3-and-D guy with some attitude. With Morris healthy, LA’s bench can be dangerous in Orlando.