Darius Morris working regularly at the Lakers’ training facility
Lakers guard Darius Morris is a regular at the team’s training facility.
In addition to improving his outside shot, Morris is working under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco.
@dariusmorris4 working his #core at end of a hard workout/just before making 500 3’s on the court todayvimeo.com/67436124 #LakersWork— Tim DiFrancesco (@tdathletesedge) June 1, 2013
While Morris is still learning to play at the right pace, offensively, he made a leap in his second season after sitting for most of his rookie year as the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Through four postseason games against the San Antonio Spurs, Morris averaged 10.5 points on 45.7% shooting with 3.0 assists.
The 22-year-old guard will hit free agency for the second time in his short career in July. The team is expected to give him a qualifying offer of $1.2 million to make him a restricted free agent.
The Lakers have both Steve Nash and Steve Blake under contract at point guard but in addition to being being able to fill in as a low-minute third, Morris has the size to play multiple positions.
Coach Mike D’Antoni experimented with the 6-foot-4 Morris as the team’s defensive stopper on the perimeter, even starting him against Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks.
While Morris wasn’t necessarily ready for the role, his gym-rat personality suggests he’ll continue to improve.
If the Lakers don’t give him a qualifying offer, he would hit free agency unrestricted -- although the team could still look to re-sign him.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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