Veteran guard Monte Morris has a new NBA home and it’s close to the place he called home growing up. The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Morris to the Detroit Pistons. In exchange, the Pistons are sending a 2027 second-round draft pick, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The trade creates a $9.8 million traded player exception for the Wizards.
Morris, who turned 28-year-old on June 27, became a trade candidate once the Wizards acquired Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones in trades. Washington wanted to clear its log jam at point guard and found Morris a place to land.
“I’M COMING HOME!!! Let’s get it @DetroitPistons,” Morris tweeted, reacting to the trade.
Morris has now gotten traded for the second consecutive off-season. The Wizards acquired him last summer in a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Kentavius Caldwell-Pope. Morris had spent five seasons in Denver.
While the Nuggets were on the path of winning its first NBA championship, Morris played 62 games with the Wizards. He averaged 10.3 points on 48% shooting from the field, including 38.2% from three. He added career highs of 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
Now, Morris gets to play an hour away from where he grew up in Flint, Michigan. He’ll be the hometown player and mentor of Detroit’s young guards, Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Meanwhile, the Wizards create a trade exception that will last year once the trade is official.
Washington also adds another second-round draft pick. The Wizards have added quite a few through trades of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzinigs. Morris’s departure opens the door for Jones to start at point guard. Also, Johnny Davis and Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards’ last two first-round picks, will get an opportunity to get minutes off the bench.
