After reaching a buyout agreement with the Detroit Pistons earlier Friday afternoon, Markieff Morris plans to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, The Athletic's Shams Charania reports.
Morris will be eligible to play in the postseason with Los Angeles after being released well in advance of the Mar. 1 deadline.
The 30-year-old power forward averaged 11 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.5 minutes per game with the Pistons this season.
After sneaking into the playoffs last season with a 41-41 record, the 2019-20 campaign hasn't been kind to Detroit, which sits 12th in the East with a 19-39 (.328) record. Star point forward Blake Griffin has made just 18 appearances this season with no timetable to return after undergoing knee surgery in January, putting the organization on a path to dismantle its core.
Longtime Pistons center Andre Drummond was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline, and starting point guard Reggie Jackson reached a buyout of his own earlier this week and officially signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.
With Morris, Drummond, and Jackson gone, and Griffin shelved for the foreseeable future, former league MVP Derrick Rose stands alone as the Pistons' only player over the age of 30.
