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Phoenix Suns: Are Markieff Morris’ Days In Phoenix Numbered?

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 25, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris celebrates after a three pointer against the New Orleans Pelicans at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris celebrates after a three pointer against the New Orleans Pelicans at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) dribbles past Washington Wizards guard Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tipping Point

Things felt like they came to something of a tipping point in Phoenix’s Dec. 4 road contest against the Washington Wizards, in which head coach Jeff Hornacek moved Jon Leuer into the starting lineup at the 4-spot. Keef still played more minutes than Leuer coming off the bench, but he was once again uninspiring, with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting paired with lazy defense.

Keef had sat out the game before that due to a knee bruise, but against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, he received the second “DNP-CD” of his NBA career. Leuer once again got the start and Keef did not log a single minute of action.

Per Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, Morris seemed more than understanding of the situation, which, knowing what we know about Markieff Morris, seems almost too good to be true:

Maybe Keef is more mature than we thought. Maybe he truly understands that he hasn’t been playing up to his standards and was legitimately willing to give his backups a shot at helping the Suns win games, since the other formula clearly wasn’t working.

Or, maybe he knows the Suns are doing all they can to trade him, that they have a potential suitor and that it’s now just a matter of waiting it out.

After all, the Suns are in a better position to move on from Morris if need be. Leuer has arguably been the Suns’ best offseason acquisition so far this season, averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in only 18.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, has drained 20 of his 43 three-point attempts and the Suns are outscoring opponents by 5.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

Between Leuer proving himself to be an all-around solid player and Mirza Teletovic shooting the lights out from downtown (43-of-97 from deep, a 44.3 percent clip), the Suns’ two reserve power forwards have simply been better than Keef so far this season, even though neither one is a particularly stout defender.

The Suns don’t seem interested in establishing a defensive identity, which is really the only area where Keef has provided any sort of advantage. But why would Houston be interested in a player like that?

Next: How The Rockets Fit In

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