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Detroit Pistons: Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock Return To Phoenix

By Aaron Ferguson

Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) gets past Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 92-87. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) gets past Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 92-87. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons (3-1) begin a six-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns (3-2) on Friday night and forwards Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock will be making their return to Phoenix.

The Suns traded Morris, Bullock and Danny Granger to the Pistons for a future draft pick on July 2, according to ESPN.com. Phoenix made the trade in an effort to clear salary cap space to lure free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge to the Suns. Morris and Bullock will play against their former team for the first time since the trade.

Morris, 26, has been an integral part of the Pistons’ success four games into the new season. Morris is averaging 17.3 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. He is the third leading scorer on the team, behind center Andre Drummond and point guard Reggie Jackson. He’s also averaging 38.3 minutes per game, which is up from 25.2 minutes per game with the Suns during the 2014-15 season.

SeasonAgeTmLgPosGGSMPFG%3P%2P%eFG%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKTOVPTS
2014-1525PHONBAPF813525.2.434.358.487.507.6280.93.94.81.60.80.20.910.4
2015-1626DETNBASF4438.3.436.385.452.482.7272.55.07.51.80.50.52.017.3
CareerNBA2616321.6.430.364.476.504.6681.03.03.91.10.70.21.09.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/5/2015.

Bullock, 24, is still trying to find his niche in the NBA. He was drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the Pistons are Bullock’s third NBA team in as many seasons. Bullock has played 25 minutes in three games with Detroit and has gone 0-for-4 from the field, including 0-for-3 from three-point range.

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Morris will be reunited with his twin brother, Markieff Morris, who he’s played with throughout most of his basketball career.  The Morris twins spent three seasons together at the University of Kansas before coming to the NBA in 2011. Markieff was drafted by the Suns with the 13th overall pick, while Marcus was drafted a pick later at No. 14 overall by the Houston Rockets.

The Morris brothers spent two and a half seasons together as teammates with the Suns. They got into trouble when they were charged with assault in May following an incident that occurred in January. Markieff was back in the headlines after Marcus was traded to the Pistons, reportedly unhappy with being separated from his twin brother and wanting out of Phoenix.

There is a lot at stake for Morris and Bullock as they return to the Suns for the first time since being traded away. Morris will likely be a major factor for the Pistons if they are going to win on the road.  However, with struggling guard play from the bench, Bullock could prove to be the X-factor from the Pistons’ reserves.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 2

Detroit will play six road games in 10 days on their west coast road trip.  The Pistons will also play games against the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers before returning home.

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