The Lakers have officially moved on from Markieff Morris, closing the book on the veteran forward’s free-agent rights after a brief second stint with the team.
Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Los Angeles renounced the rights to a long list of former players on Wednesday, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington.
Morris’ name stands out because of where he fit into one of the biggest deals of 2025. On Feb. 2 2025, the Mavericks sent Doncic, Morris, and Maxi Kleber to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The Jazz were pulled into the transaction as well, receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick.
For Morris, the trade also brought a strange return to Los Angeles after he had already spent part of his career with the franchise. He was a member of the Lakers’ 2019-20 championship team, contributing 5.3 points per game in 14.2 minutes while shooting 40.6% from the field and 33.3% from three across 14 games. He then played the next season with the Lakers before moving on to the Heat, Nets, and Mavericks.
His 2025 reunion with Los Angeles didn’t last long. Morris appeared in eight games before becoming an unrestricted free agent, and he did not play in 2025-26. If that ends up being the final chapter of his NBA run, the former first-round pick leaves with more than a decade in the league and a championship ring to show for it.
In Other News...
LeBrons Lakers Ending Suddenly Looks More Unsettling Than Fans Realized
Derek Fishers reaction to the celebration around LeBron James not returning to the Lakers says as much about the franchises relationship with its stars as it does about LeBron himself. Fisher sounded surprised that so many fans seemed relieved, arguing in effect that James never got treated like the kind of Lakers icon who arrives, grows into the jersey and becomes inseparable from the building the way Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant or Shaquille ONeal once did.
That divide has only deepened the sense that LeBrons Los Angeles run ended with more friction than affection. The tension around his Lakers tenure has been tied to the fallout from the Russell Westbrook trade, and even among former players there is no clean consensus on where LeBron belongs in franchise history, which is part of why the reaction to his exit feels so unsettled now. [Read more 🡒]
Harsh Bronny Challenge Puts Lakers Faith Under A Bigger Spotlight
The Lakers made an early commitment to Bronny James before the bigger family storyline shifted around them, guaranteeing his deal for the 2026-27 season and signaling that they still see a development project worth keeping in-house. It was a notable vote of confidence for a young guard whose NBA minutes have been limited and whose production has invited plenty of skepticism, even as his G-League work and physical tools hint at more upside than his current big-league rsum shows.
Bronny has already appeared in 69 NBA games, but the broader question is less about what he has done so far than what the Lakers believe he can become. Their decision to let the deadline pass without moving on from him says they are willing to live with the growing scrutiny, especially now that the teams long-term outlook no longer includes LeBron James in the same way it once did. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Lost Out On A Wing They Clearly Needed
The wing market took another turn with Rui Hachimura, a former Lakers forward known for his smooth jumper and efficient scoring, finding a new home after drawing interest from a handful of teams. Hachimuras appeal is easy to see for any contender looking for spacing and reliable offense on the perimeter, especially after he closed the postseason with strong shooting and a reputation as one of those role players who can fit almost anywhere.
For the Warriors, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be when a needed piece is available and then gone. Hachimura had options beyond Golden State, and his recent playoff work only sharpened the case for teams that wanted a wing who could stretch the floor and score without forcing the issue, leaving the rest of the market to sort out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]