According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Indiana Pacers have signed veteran point guard Monte Morris to a one-year deal. The 30-year-old will provide a veteran presence and backcourt depth in Indiana.
Morris spent last season with the Phoenix Suns and appeared in 45 games for the team, all coming off the bench. In those games, he averaged 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 42.6% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc. Before his time in Phoenix, Morris spent time with the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The eight-year guard will look to make an impact in Indiana and join a point guard rotation that includes Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and potentially Kam Jones.
Monte Morris is a very sold pickup for the Pacers
Though he is not a flashy name, Morris is a very solid pickup for the Pacers, especially considering how badly they needed a third point guard to rely on with Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf and Nembhard taking on a bigger role. The Michigan native is a very dependable point guard who can get the job done as a playmaker and passer. For his career, Morris averaged 3.7 assists to just 0.7 turnovers.
Additionally, Morris is a fantastic three-point shooter, shooting a career 38.9% from beyond the arc. This will be a huge benefit for the Pacers, whose three-point shooting will likely take a big hit without Haliburton running the point.
He has his flaws, particularly on the defensive side of the ball (though this is largely due to his size rather than his skill), but Morris is going to be the Pacers' third point guard at best. The Iowa State alum has a clear role to play, and he may have been the best player available to do so.
The Pacers needed another dependable point guard to take some of the load off of Nembhard and McConnell. While they have some solid options available, it was unclear if any of them could be trusted for an entire season.
Jones looks like he can be a legitimate contributor for the Pacers, but he is a second-round rookie, and it is still unclear which guard position he will play. Additionally, the Pacers have Quenton Jackson and RayJ Dennis in the organization, but they are both on two-way contracts.
This is why signing Morris is a good move for Indiana, especially considering that it is only for one season. Worst case, he does not remain with the Pacers past this season (maybe even moving on beforehand via a trade or release since it's a non-guaranteed deal, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto), and the team just moves in a direction. In the best case, however, Morris established himself as a valuable asset to the Pacers as they look to remain competitive.
Signing Morris is not a blockbuster deal for the Pacers, but fans should be happy with it nonetheless. This is a very low-risk, high-reward move with some upside, and it could help the team stay afloat as they temporarily navigate through life without their star guard.