First it was Tubby Smith. Now Randolph Morris is leaving Lexington.
Morris, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound Kentucky junior big man, has signed a two-year free agent contract with the New York Knicks, according to a source close to the Knicks organization.
According to the source, he signed for around $800,000 per year. One NBA general manager told FOXSports.com that Morris should have received a much more lucrative deal. He basically received second-round money while he should have commanded a contract that was more in line with a late first-rounder.
"We said all along that in terms of building this team we would have to find unconventional ways to try and find talent and get out and beat the bushes," said Isiah Thomas, the Knicks' coach and director of basketball operations. "This is a very unique situation and I don't know if there has been something similar to this. The rules allowed it, and here we are."
Thomas said Morris will soon join and practice with the Knicks, who love the potential in the 6-foot-11, 260-pounder.
"It's another guy we can add to our young core," Thomas said. "We're very happy to have him. It's another big and it's almost like another pick in this year's draft — just a little early."
Thomas said several other teams were "chasing" Morris.
Morris was technically a free agent after putting his name in for the 2005 NBA Draft and not being drafted. He returned to the Wildcats after sitting out an NCAA-mandated 14-game suspension, averaging 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21 games.
Morris averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this season for the Wildcats, who went 22-12 and lost to Kansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament last weekend.
But the knock on the Atlanta native is that he doesn't play with any intensity. However, one NBA general manager said earlier this season that Morris would have certainly been a first-round pick this season if he was eligible for the draft. A provision in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement prevented Morris from re-entering the NBA draft and he was given free agent status throughout the 2006-07 season.
Morris, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound Kentucky junior big man, has signed a two-year free agent contract with the New York Knicks, according to a source close to the Knicks organization.
According to the source, he signed for around $800,000 per year. One NBA general manager told FOXSports.com that Morris should have received a much more lucrative deal. He basically received second-round money while he should have commanded a contract that was more in line with a late first-rounder.
"We said all along that in terms of building this team we would have to find unconventional ways to try and find talent and get out and beat the bushes," said Isiah Thomas, the Knicks' coach and director of basketball operations. "This is a very unique situation and I don't know if there has been something similar to this. The rules allowed it, and here we are."
Thomas said Morris will soon join and practice with the Knicks, who love the potential in the 6-foot-11, 260-pounder.
"It's another guy we can add to our young core," Thomas said. "We're very happy to have him. It's another big and it's almost like another pick in this year's draft — just a little early."
Thomas said several other teams were "chasing" Morris.
Morris was technically a free agent after putting his name in for the 2005 NBA Draft and not being drafted. He returned to the Wildcats after sitting out an NCAA-mandated 14-game suspension, averaging 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21 games.
Morris averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this season for the Wildcats, who went 22-12 and lost to Kansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament last weekend.
But the knock on the Atlanta native is that he doesn't play with any intensity. However, one NBA general manager said earlier this season that Morris would have certainly been a first-round pick this season if he was eligible for the draft. A provision in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement prevented Morris from re-entering the NBA draft and he was given free agent status throughout the 2006-07 season.
