Former Celtics forward not looking back after awkward Clippers exit
PHILADELPHIA — The Celtics will be seeing a familiar face again this week in Philadelphia when former Boston forward Marcus Morris suits up for his new team.
The veteran was acquired by the 76ers earlier this month from the Clippers along with Robert Covington, KJ Martin and Nicolas Batum in exchange for James Harden and PJ Tucker. Morris had yet to suit up for the Clippers this season and had played sparingly for the franchise since a surprise late-season benching last April. Morris did play when injuries hit during the postseason but he was not with the team regularly to start this year before he was dealt to Boston’s rival.
“Honestly, bro I don’t want to speak on that s***,” Morris told MassLive. “I’m happy to be home in Philly. I’m trying to get started and help the team win in any capacity and try to reach the goal and winning the championship.”
“I just think, the way the team I was on in previous years … I didn’t feel like I was myself,” Morris said earlier this month. “I was always on the West Coast. We all know there’s a big difference with East and West. I know I wasn’t myself; I know I wasn’t half myself. So being able to come home and being able to play in front of different fans, embracing the fans and embracing the fanbase, being able to see my family a lot, it’s going to be a different atmosphere for me.”
Morris played two seasons with the Celtics after the team acquired him for Avery Bradley in July 2017. He walkedin free agency in the summer of 2019 and signed a one-year deal with the Knicks after Boston elected to clear cap room to sign Kemba Walker. Despite his brief stay in Boston, Morris embraced Jayson Tatum before Wednesday’s game against the 76ers and still holds a strong bond with some members of the team and the city four years later.
“That’s my family,” Morris said. “I had a great time my couple years in Boston. Great time, great fans, great fanbase. I’m talking about the 76ers now though.”
