Wizards' Morris to miss 6-8 weeks after hernia surgery
The Wizards' shallow rotation was dealt a major blow Friday, with the team announcing that starting power forward Markieff Morris will be out for six-to-eight weeks after undergoing a procedure to repair a sports hernia.
With the Wizards' season tipping off on Oct. 18, Morris' recovery could keep him out for up to a month of regular-season action. As he'll miss all of training camp and preseason, Morris may be eased into game action when healthy.
Further complicating matters, Markieff, alongside twin brother Marcus of the Boston Celtics, is also the subject of an ongoing assault trial.
After being acquired from the Phoenix Suns midway through the 2015-16 season, Morris has blossomed into an indispensable member of the Wizards' starting lineup. In 103 games, the 6-foot-10 forward has averaged 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 34.9 percent on 3-pointers and providing some tenacity on the defensive end.
In his absence, Jason Smith will likely see an increased run. The backup big man managed to shoot a career-high 47.4 percent on 1.1 3-pointers per game last year. However, at 7-feet tall, pairing him with either Marcin Gortat or Ian Mahinmi would likely clog the lane, negating the elite driving speed of superstar guard John Wall.
Another option would be to try to get by for short stints with a small-ball lineup featuring Otto Porter Jr. at power forward, with third-year wing Kelly Oubre Jr. sliding into the core unit alongside Wall, Gortat, and Bradley Beal.
Either way, the Wizards will be tested early and often until Morris returns to the court.