Nuggets wrap up free agency by locking in Monte Morris to multi-year contract

Monte Morris went into Summer League with one goal in mind: to win the Nuggets’ backup point guard job. In reality, that might have been an unattainable aspiration for the 23-year-old who only logged 25 minutes with Denver last season.

But even though the Nuggets signed Isaiah Thomas to a veteran’s minimum contract to back up starting point guard Jamal Murray, Denver still rewarded Morris for the strides he’s made over the past year.

The Nuggets and Morris agreed to a three-year deal worth $4.8 million, according to Yahoo Sports. The third year of Morris’ contract is reportedly non-guaranteed. The Nuggets will convert Morris’ contract from a two-way deal, which he played on last year and was signed to for this upcoming season, to a normal NBA contract.

Denver selected Morris 51st overall of Iowa State in 2017. At Summer League this year, Morris was one of the most impressive players in uniform. He averaged 17.5 points and 6.2 assists in four games. Morris also handed out 25 assists to just five turnovers and proved that he could effectively run a team at this level of competition. Across 37 G League games last season, Morris averaged roughly 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Morris wasn’t the biggest lead guard in Las Vegas but he was an active and effective defender in all four of his outings. Nuggets Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez spoke about his leadership both on and off the floor on multiple occasions and Morris played into the role of Denver’s captain in Las Vegas. His play in the pick-and-roll was excellent too. Morris scored out of the two-man game often and showed off an impressive feel around the rim where he hit shots from every angle, off every foot and with both hands. Morris is also a gifted passer and was able to find his roll man routinely with ease throughout the week.

Morris will likely enter training camp as the third point guard on the Nuggets’ roster.

By converting Morris’ two-way deal, the Nuggets filled their 15th and final roster spot, which was cleared when Denver dealt Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur to the Nets, along with a 2019 first-round draft pick, in exchange for Isaiah Whitehead, who the team subsequently waived.

Denver has now re-upped both of its two-way players from last season. The Nuggets signed Torrey Craig to a two-year, $4 million contract earlier this offseason.

By converting Morris’ deal, the Nuggets have an open spot to sign another player to a two-way contract. Denver signed 58th overall pick Thomas Welsh to its other two-way deal Thursday.