Adam Morrison Should Opt For Development Rather Than Retirement

Adam Morrison dropped a bomb of sorts on the basketball community when he stated that he is likely to retire if he is unable to make the Portland Trail Blazers' 15-man roster.

The former Gonzaga standout gave everyone, including the Blazers, reason to believe that he can succeed at the NBA level after going off in Summer League, averaging 20.0 points on 55% from the field, all the while also grabbing 5 rebounds per game.

The long range specialist (and often labeled draft "bust") has a great opportunity with the Blazers to land a roster spot. It has been said that with the season ending injury to Elliot Williams, Morrison stands an even more likely chance at securing a spot if he can prove serviceable on the defensive end.

While in L.A., Morrison kept the wrong end of the Lakers bench warm. It was his defensive inabilities that landed the lanky, often mustached, former third overall pick on that end of the bench.

It should be noted that Morrison posted respectable averages during his time in Serbia and Turkey last season. Morrison averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in Serbia, and 11.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in Turkey.

With Morrison's ability to score the ball from long range, combined with his awkward length leading to defensive mismatches, Morrison still has NBA minutes in him and should forgo any idea of retirement. Morrison has made it clear that the "Europe thing" wasn't for him. However, now with the Idaho Stampede in a single affiliate role with Portland, Morrison should opt for the D-League rather than retirement.

Now that Portland controls the basketball operations side of the Idaho Stampede, they could assign Morrison to spend time with the team working on his defensive skills all while being a quick phone call and short flight away from rejoining the NBA ranks with the Blazers. A stint with the Stampede in the D-League, against formidable offensive talent, would help Morrison develop his defensive skills.

There is no doubt that the Gonzaga product would kill it in the D-League, and at only 28-years-old, it isn't too late for the Pacific Northwest fan favorite to make a splash on the basketball scene once again, this time back in the NBA via the D-League.