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Marcus Morris to Miss Start of Training Camp While on Trial

By Joshua Bateman

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 19: Marcus Morris #13 of the Detroit Pistons and Markieff Morris #5 of the Washington Wizards shake hands during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 19: Marcus Morris #13 of the Detroit Pistons and Markieff Morris #5 of the Washington Wizards shake hands during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Marcus Morris is going to miss the start of training camp as he stands on trial

There are all kinds of uncertainty around new Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris regarding his ongoing trial. Morris is facing jail time and a potential suspension, and things will not be resolved before training camp begins (Via ESPN).

Morris is on trial along with his twin brother, Markieff Morris, as well as three others for an incident back in 2014. They plead not guilty, and now all the Celtics can do is await the results.

Independent of the actual real world ramifications, which obviously matter a lot more, Morris’ situation with the Celtics could be damaged because of this delay.

The Celtics went through one of the craziest roster turnovers we have ever seen, and they still have not filled their final roster spot. Morris is going to be fighting for a starting position, but it is hard to see that happening if he is missing time at camp.

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It is going to take a lot of time to get through this team’s transition period, and establish the kind of chemistry that is needed to compete for a championship.

Every moment Morris is away from the team is more time for someone else to establish chemistry with the players we know are starting. Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford are locks. Those other two positions will depend almost entirely on how things work out in camp and in preseason. Obviously, that puts the absent Morris at a massive disadvantage.

Not all is lost for Morris because of this. It is very possible that no one is able to establish anything in that position, leaving it wide open for Morris to grab when he returns. The problem is that this limits Morris’ opportunities to prove himself.

If Morris is hoping for that starting position, then as long as he is missing camp his only hope is his teammates struggling, and that is not good for anybody.

Next: Takeaway From Celtics Media Day

The Celtics want to get things going as quickly as possible. Stevens will need every moment he can get with a full roster, and Morris will inevitably hold himself, and whatever unit he is playing on behind, as he awaits the results of a trial that could keep him away form the Celtics for much longer if the ruling does not go in his favour.

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