For the past several weeks, I’ve occasionally sat around and tried to dream up a way for Kansas University standouts Marcus and Markieff Morris to remain on the same team in their basketball futures.
It’s been tough.
I’ve kicked around a couple of different scenarios. Some were a serious stretch while others made sense in terms of the way the team would go about landing them both but not necessarily in terms of the draft spots available for it to happen.
Until today, that is.
Just a few minutes ago, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford released his latest mock draft. For those of you who are ESPN Insiders, go check it out. For those who aren’t, sit back and let me explain what I saw.
There, in the No. 9 spot in the draft, Ford predicted that the Charlotte Bobcats — Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats, no less — would pick Marcus Morris.
Of Marcus, Ford had this to say: “The Bobcats haven’t been the greatest drafters the past few years. Michael Jordan is determined to change that. The thinking in Charlotte is to not take big risks — to go with a proven product and swing for a double instead of a home run. Morris, with his versatility, toughness and Kansas pedigree is a very good option. Klay Thompson, Chris Singleton and Jordan Hamilton are all in the mix here as well.”
Stay with me, here’s where it gets good.
At No. 17, Ford has Josh Selby going to the New York Knicks. Now, most days I’d call you crazy if you told me that Selby would go before Markieff in this year’s draft. But there’s enough here for it all to make sense, especially if you, like me, want to hold on to the dream scenario that has the Morris twins playing together in the NBA.
Two picks later on Ford’s mock draft, at No. 19, Charlotte comes up again. They got there via a trade with New Orleans and, with the pick, Ford thinks they may take Markieff.
Here’s what Ford’s analysis of this pick says: “A month ago I was in Florida with the Morris twins and big topic of discussion was the inevitability of the two brothers breaking up when they were drafted by different teams. We explored a number of options that could reunite them on the same team. This is really the only plausible one, and it’s more plausible than you think. The Bobcats are one of those teams that thinks the twins can play together. If it happens, you’ll see two very happy twins on draft night. Brooks, Faried and Reggie Jackson are other names who could land here.”
With just two weeks remaining before this year’s NBA Draft, scenarios like this — and many others that are much crazier — will start to pop up in rapid-fire style.
I’ll weigh back in soon with some of my own, but, for now, this one’s too good not to share.
Think many KU fans would start to pay attention to the Bobcats a little more if this actually happened?
Speaking of the draft, be sure to check out our 2011 KUsports.com NBA Draft contest for a chance to win KU gear.
To enter, make sure you’re signed up for a KUSports.com account and ENTER THE CONTEST for a chance to win a $100 in KU gear.
