NBA Trade Rumors: LeBron James Pushed for Markieff Morris in Luka Doncic Trade
LeBron James had a specific request when the Los Angeles Lakers orchestrated their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic—he wanted Markieff Morris included in the deal.
According to Marcus Morris, his brother Markieff was on LeBron’s radar due to his strong bond with Dončić. Speaking on Kevin O’Connor’s podcast on March 18, Marcus shed light on the reasoning behind LeBron’s push for his former teammate.
"The part about it I don't think a lot of people see is that ‘Kieff and Luka have a really good relationship. Like, a really good relationship," Marcus said.
"So I think that they probably noticed that and they wanted Luka to feel better going to a new place where you have somebody who has been a teammate. Also, Dorian Finney-Smith has been [Dončić's teammate]. Maxi Kleber. So I think that really helped. Also ‘Kieff played there, so the Lakers really wanted him to come. ‘Bron asked for him to come.”
Why Did LeBron Want Markieff Morris?
The Lakers' interest in Morris makes sense. He was part of their 2020 NBA Championship squad and brought toughness, experience, and veteran leadership. While his on-court production was limited—averaging just 4.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in seven games—his presence could have helped Dončić adjust to life in Los Angeles.
However, Morris ultimately wasn’t included in the deal. Instead, Dončić arrived in LA without him, but the Lakers have thrived since the trade.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Playoff Push
Currently, Los Angeles sits at 42-27, holding the fourth seed in the Western Conference standings. They’re just 0.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets and 2.5 games back from the Houston Rockets.
After falling to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, the Lakers aim to bounce back in their next matchup against the Orlando Magic on March 24 at 7 p.m. ET.
Add a comment