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Phoenix Suns: 2015-16 Season Outlook

By Phil Watson

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Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) celebrates a three point shot by making a gun with his finger aimed at the Oklahoma City Thunder bench in the first quarter at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) celebrates a three point shot by making a gun with his finger aimed at the Oklahoma City Thunder bench in the first quarter at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Key Storylines

1. Can there be peace in our time between the Suns front office and disgruntled Markieff Morris?

Markieff Morris made no bones about how he feels about the Phoenix Suns.

#FOE, of course, is a hashtag that means “family over everything,” and Morris has made no bones about his displeasure at the trading of his twin, Marcus, to the Detroit Pistons in the Suns’ ultimately failed run at LaMarcus Aldridge.

Markieff, meanwhile, is their incumbent power forward, starting all 82 games a season ago and averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

It’s not elite production, but given that their other power forward options are former Brooklyn Net Mirza Teletovic—who missed the last half of last season with blood clots in his lungs, former Memphis Grizzly Jon Leuer—who has never averaged more than 13.1 minutes per game, and former Net Cory Jefferson—who logged 531 minutes as a rookie last season—the Suns are sort of over a barrel here.

Predictably, Markieff is getting killed in some circles by fans ($32 million guaranteed over the next four years does not engender a lot of sympathy, it appears), but general manager Ryan McDonough may have failed to consider the special circumstances involved when employing twins in a business as emotion-driven as professional sports.

The Suns, to this point, have not made a move to trade Morris, who said he will report to training camp as expected if he’s still on the roster.

“I’ve got to show up,” Morris told the Philadelphia Inquirer last month (via AZCentral.com). “No question. You can’t do that. I will be a professional. Don’t get me wrong. But it won’t get that far. … I’m going to be out before then, should be.”

The situation is complicated by the Morris twins’ legal woes, which include a hearing later this month related to felony charges of aggravated assault.

It’s ugly. The Suns have no chance of getting back equal value in a trade and the free agent options at this point are all but non-existent.

Next: Storyline: Twin Points ... Part Troix

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