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Milwaukee Bucks: Getting to know new two-way player Jaylen Morris

By Jordan Treske

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 3: Jaylen Morris #3 of the Atlanta Hawks goes to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2018 Utah Summer League on July 3, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 3: Jaylen Morris #3 of the Atlanta Hawks goes to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2018 Utah Summer League on July 3, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA – JANUARY 12: (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA – JANUARY 12: (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /

First year in the pros

After going undrafted last summer, Morris turned to pursuing overseas opportunities for his first professional deal. However, the only interest he could garner were from lower-level teams in Europe.

Instead of continuing down that road, Morris looked toward the G League and locked down an invite to the G League Player Invitational in August of last year. From there, Morris logged an individual tryout with the Long Island Nets and was drafted 41st overall by the Erie Bayhawks in the G League Draft last October.

Considering his humble beginnings, Morris’ transition to the professional level with the Bayhawks went incredibly smoothly as he was quick to make his imprint on the squad, which was helmed by current Bucks assistant coach Josh Longstaff.

In his 39 appearances with Erie for the season, all of them coming as starts, Morris tallied 12.6 points on shooting splits of .517/.287/.673, along with 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals  On February 28 of this year, Morris’ perseverance paid off as he parlayed his success in the G League into a 10-day contract with the Hawks.

Upon joining Atlanta, Morris saw solid playing time under new Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer and eventually averaged 4.7 points on 40.7 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from three, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in his six appearances.

That was good enough for the Hawks to go ahead and offer Morris a multi-year, non-guaranteed deal at the end of March following the completion of his second 10-day deal but Morris failed to make any further appearances as a result of picking up a sprained ankle.

Not long after Morris wound up in Atlanta on his first 10-day deal, former Erie Bayhawks general manager and current Detroit Pistons assistant general manager Malik Rose talked about what he saw in Morris last August when at the G League Player Invitational with Drew Zlogar of the G League’s website:

"“Jaylen just stood out immediately,” said Rose. “For him coming from Division II, it didn’t really bother me. You watch him, and you understand that he can play, he has a great basketball IQ, he made a lot of great plays, handled himself well on the pick and roll, so I thought that he was an easy guy to take a chance on. “The G League is a huge opportunity for everyone involved to get noticed; players, coaches, front office members, everybody has a chance to follow their dream of reaching the NBA, and this event is just another chance for everyone to show their stuff.”"

After playing with the Hawks in Summer League in both Utah and Las Vegas earlier this month, Morris’ time with the Hawks came to an end as he was waived on July 19.

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