Markieff Morris Approved By The Board For Return

In the midst of a redemption of a back-to-back set, the Miami Heat took care of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. With a contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, it seemed as though the Miami Heat were all but set to avenge themselves against the two teams that they had been a combined 0-3 against prior to Friday’s win.

However, it appears that the Miami Heat won’t be at tip-top health when the T-Wolves game tips off on Saturday.

That still doesn’t mean they won’t give the Minnesota team a run for their money, possibly even pulling it out. They’ll need big efforts from Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, Dewayne Dedmon, and the rest of the crew though.

They’ve managed with absence all year long and should be able to continue to do so, especially with the way the last one went against Minnesota and after their recent defeat to the Suns.

The Miami Heat have been one of the NBA’s deepest teams all year, succeeding with volatile availability. However, they’re on the verge of finally being whole.

Speaking of the absences for the Miami Heat though, they seem to be about to return a body on the above list, however, one that has been out for the last four months or so. Markieff Morris hasn’t played since the now-infamous dustup between himself and Nikola Jokic in early November.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Markieff Morris has been cleared by the collectively bargained board or “panel” of doctors that oversee issues like his. Here is more from Reynolds’ reporting.

A person with knowledge of the situation says Morris has received clearance to play again, a move that comes more than four months after he was injured in a scuffle with Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the clearance has not been revealed publicly.

One of the final steps in the process toward a return came this week when Morris’ case was heard by the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel, consisting of three physicians who determine if a player is, as described by the league’s collective bargaining agreement, “medically able and medically fit to practice and play.”

That panel determined that Morris can indeed return, and the belief is that sometime during the remainder of Miami’s current homestand — Saturday against Minnesota, Tuesday against Detroit or next Friday against Oklahoma City — the 11-season veteran will be available to play.

Approaching nearly his 60th game missed on the season Morris was to be a huge part of what the Miami Heat did this season when he was signed. With them still in need of depth at his positions of play, he should slot back in and continue to help them move closer towards their ultimate potential—an NBA Finals berth and title.

While that’s the overall perspective, the specific perspective should be a sentiment that is happy to see him back on the court. Missing so much time after taking a blow like the one he did, a blindsided one that seems to have mostly impacted the back, neck, and spine regions, it’s good to see the guy back on the court.

Again though, you have to be extremely elated for how this deepens the Miami Heat rotation further and their potential to reach their ultimate hopes. It’s just all good all the way around.