2:55pm: Morris said he’s “super-excited” to play with offseason signee Tyson Chandler, and he called this year’s team the best Suns squad he’s been a part of, according to Coro, who writes in a full story.
“The ultimate goal is to make the playoffs,” Morris said. “It’s not about me. It’s about my teammates and the organization. I’m just looking forward to a great year and hopefully we can make the playoffs this year.”
12:12pm: Markieff Morris declared “I want to be here” as he addressed reporters at Suns media day today on the eve of training camp, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link), declining to otherwise address his tumultuous offseason relationship with the Suns. Morris demanded a trade in August, weeks after the team dealt his twin brother to the Pistons. Morris had said even as he made his trade demand that he would show up for camp, but it’s surprising to see him seemingly put it behind him after doubling down earlier this month, tweeting that, “My future will not be in Phoenix.” That remark drew a $10K fine from the league, so perhaps it’s the threat of punishment that has the power forward changing his rhetoric.
Suns GM Ryan McDonough and coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the idea of lingering animosity, in keeping with the optimism they’ve consistently shown about reaching a reconciliation, as Coro relays (Twitter links). The Suns have reportedly been disinclined to give in to Morris’ demand.
“He’s certainly not the first and won’t be the last player to be upset with the front office,” GM Ryan McDonough said, according to Coro. “It happens.”
McDonough wasn’t apologetic about failing to give Morris advance warning about trading his brother, however, in comments that Coro tweets. Morris expressed displeasure as he made his trade demand that the Suns didn’t run his brother’s trade by him.
The former 13th overall pick had planned not to talk to the Suns front office and to answer Hornacek only with one-word responses, as John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reported. It’s unclear if he’s changed that stance. In any case, he’s due $8MM this season in the first year of a four-year, $32MM extension that he signed at the same time his brother inked a four-year, $20MM extension with the team in the hopes that the pair would be together for the long term.
Do you believe that Morris truly no longer wants to be traded, or do you think this storyline will come up again? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
He is just trying to sucker in the crowd so he doesn’t get booed
he will be traded
Get rid of the bum!
So he can raise his trade value up so we do trade him
If he is a true professional that I think he is hell move. Forward and get better the suns need him clutch player how wants the ball when it counts
Markieff, his agent and the Suns all came to understand that his value and, thus, likelihood of being traded depended on him being a good soldier. The Suns will move him after he produces and they can get decent value for him. That much is pretty certain. If I’m the Suns, I wait for a good deal, but if nothing comes up, I dump his ass on Portland. See if he likes the Northwest any better than any and all of the other east coast city kids who ended up there over the years. It’s both good punishment, and he fits the Blazers needs. As cheap as Noah Vonleh’s contract is, the Suns should consider exchanging them straight up.
Smitty, is that you? I didn’t know you ever left your LB stomping grounds.
More to the point though, I honestly don’t think the Blazers make that deal. I think that given their current roster construction (aka relative lack of talent and abundance of youth) they’d rather roll the dice on Vonleh’s upside given that his college numbers indicate he could be a elite rebounder, stretch 4, and with his length and athleticism potentially a rim protector. Morris can also stretch the floor, not quite effectively to 3 point range yet, but he certainly doesn’t project to become a much better rebounder/defender. And even the major appeals of Morris, his dirt cheap extension and ability to score in isolation, aren’t quite as attractive when only giving up a rookie scale contact and when you would like to have the ball in Lillard’s hands as much as possible. Intriguing trade for both sides to consider though.
-Friendly LB creeper who rarely comments
I don’t care.. He’s a great player and as long as he continues to play great, I’m good. Keep him here. Makes the suns better.
We’ll see after his court case
Took the PC road after burning bridges in the summer. I would be surprised if Markieff is still a Sun after the trade deadline.