Randolph 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.
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.
There is no word on when he will join the Knicks, who are fighting for an
Eastern Conference playoff berth.