The Pistons have had a lot of players cycle in and out of the organization in the last few seasons, especially when they weren’t winning a lot of games. Many of these guys had unremarkable stints on the court and have been forgotten by the fanbase at large. One of them, Monte Morris, has now joined the Indiana Pacers and is fondly remembered by some Pistons fans for his connection to the Detroit-area community.
Monte Morris: Flint, MI Legend
The Pistons traded for Monte Morris in the 2023 offseason and there was a lot of excitement about his arrival. Morris had a history of being a reliable backup point guard, especially in his first few NBA seasons with the Nuggets. He had a solid blend of shooting, playmaking and positional defense that should’ve made him an ideal backup for Cade Cunningham.
Some fans were also doubly excited because Morris is originally from Flint, just an hour north of Detroit. In fact, Morris was named the 2013 Michigan Mr. Basketball and even had his high school jersey retired at Flint Beecher High School while on the Pistons. As a show of support, the entire Pistons team attended the ceremony.
Unfortunately, Morris’ Pistons tenure was quickly derailed by injury. He had a long-standing quadriceps injury that kept him out for the beginning of that season. When he returned, he wasn’t the same player he had been in the past as he worked his way back. Sadly, the Pistons traded him to the Timberwolves after just 6 games.
Morris did not play well in those 6 games - 4.5 points and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 36 percent from the field and 18 percent from three - but again, he was recovering from a serious injury. He bounced back after being traded and five points and two assists on 41 percent from the field and 42 percent from three with Minnesota that season.
Last season, Morris played a backup point guard role for the Phoenix Suns and has not elected to join Indiana in the same capacity. Although his initial Pistons stint surely left a sour taste in the organization’s mouth, the Pistons could have used his services for next season.
Morris is a reliable option at backup point guard, and the same skills that made him an attractive options for the Pistons in the first place still show up in his game. Many of the Pistons' young players did not look good in the franchise-worst season of 2023-24 due to the poor roster construction and the same can apply to Morris. On the improved current day Pistons, he would surely look a lot better.
Arguably the Pistons greatest weakness in their rotation is their lack of point guard depth which we have seen severely impact other teams recently. Morris can be a stabilizing force in emergency situations and a good veteran mentor for the younger guards on the team.
As a hometown favorite, Monte Morris will always have a special place in the hearts of Pistons fans. The team's need for someone at his position makes his decision to join the rival Pacers all the more painful.