In an appearance on Yahoo! Sports' "Good Word With Goodwill," Marcus Morris discussed the state of his former team, the Boston Celtics, with host Vincent Goodwill.
The 13-year veteran spent the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the 18-time NBA champions. That included a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in Jayson Tatum's rookie season.
While the plan was to initially build around Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford, that year set the tone for an era led by Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It's one defined by consistent, high-level success. Epitomizing that is the 2023-24 championship banner hanging above the parquet.
But as Morris pondered what's to come this summer for a team facing the consequences of being over the second apron for multiple years, he believes Kristaps Porzingis doesn't fit with the franchise.
"I don't think they need any major changes," voiced Morris. "I'm going to be candid because I'm on the media's side. Porzingis is not a Celtic. Porzingis doesn't embody what they need from him. That's not no knock to him; I know he has injuries. I think you definitely dangle him to see what you can get. But I don't think you can get that much, to be honest, the way this league is going on."
Is Morris right about Porzingis?
While Morris didn't clarify, if he's strictly talking about Porzingis dealing with injuries and an energy-zapping illness the last two postseasons, he has a point.
However, the Celtics acquired the former All-Star to be a mismatch nightmare for opponents. Porzingis delivered. He punishes switches and is among the top post-up options in the league. He also warps defenses with a range that extends well beyond the three-point line.
At the other end of the floor, the seven-foot-two center utilizes his length and basketball IQ to operate effectively in drop coverage and make an impact as a rim protector.
Boston doesn't earn the top seed in a dominant 2023-24 campaign without the Latvian native at center. That afforded the Celtics home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Porzingis also made his mark on the NBA Finals that year. Most notably, in the series opener against the Dallas Mavericks, he produced 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocks off the bench.
The idea that he's not a Celtic is off the mark. However, as Morris discussed, there is a legitimate possibility that he will get traded this summer. But even if that happens, don't rule out Porzingis later returning to Boston.