I was a little disappointed to find out Morris is a SF that can play some PF, similar to Crowder. Jae player 26% of his minutes at PF last year.
I think the small-ball experiment with Crowder at the 4 had mixed results - although it saved the Chicago series. Brad said that the sample size was small but he believed in it.
Despite the difference in length, Crowder was far superior to Morris as a defensive rebounder last season, and whether you look at things through the traditional 1-5 lens or the big/swing/wing/ballhandler lens, that gives Jae an advantage.
If Jae is your starting 4, that's a problem. As a backup, it's a much better role for him. On defense he can also take quicker wings, and now that Bradley is gone he may well see more time at the "2" (or whatever we call that these days).
Morris is taller and about the same weight with a much better post up and mid-range game, while Crowder is the better three point shooter.
Better mid-range game for sure - but was it good? .447 between 10ft and the arc. Not a bad asset if you've got to get a shot, but a steady diet of it is offensive suicide.
Crowder is also a way better finisher (.739 at the rim is stellar), gets to the line a lot more, better FT shooter (though Morris is good).
Crowder is high-efficiency, low-usage.
I'm doubtful that we'll see many Morris post-ups; he's not real good at making a play.
Your point about Morris' length is a good one; that's the main thing that he's got going for him - not a small thing. They both body up and play physical defense.
So who plays more minutes at the four.
Beats me. Eventually Tatum, I'd guess, and he's got enough shot-creating skills that even more minutes than Jaylen got in his rookie year seems likely; and some of those will be at the swing/pf slot.
The dark horse, I guess, is Ojeleye - Brad was raving about his defense on bigger players in Summer League; but it would be quite an achievement for him to even crack the rotation in his rookie year.