Phoenix Suns: Are Markieff Morris’ Days In Phoenix Numbered?
Potential Deals
According to Stein, Terrence Jones would likely be included in a trade for Keef, though his $2.5 million salary comes nowhere near Morris’ $8 million contract. That means more would have to be added to the equation on Houston’s end. According to Sheridan Hoops, the Rockets were considering dangling Jones and/or D-Mo in a potential trade if things didn’t turn around.
Morey had refuted reports about shaking up the roster with trades, but if those players are available, the Suns would do well to get either one of them in a potential deal — power forward logjam be damned. They wouldn’t get both, however, and even if Morey momentarily lost his mind and decided to include both, their combined salaries still wouldn’t be enough to match.
With both of their contracts are less than $3 million, there couldn’t be an outright swap involving either one. Trevor Ariza‘s contract ($8.2 million) is the closest match, but then the Suns would be dealing with a logjam at the 3 between Ariza, P.J. Tucker and T.J. Warren.
However, it wouldn’t be out of the question if we saw something like Ariza and rookie Montrezl Harrell for Morris and Archie Goodwin, who has found himself on the outside of the rotation looking in thanks to Devin Booker‘s NBA readiness and sharpshooting off the bench.
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There are no clear answers here, and the Suns might have to involve a third team to facilitate a deal. The Detroit Pistons — who currently start twin brother Marcus — were reportedly interested in trading for Keef as well, and we should note that there’s been zero indication out of Phoenix that the Suns actually want to trade Keef.
But Suns GM Ryan McDonough (A.K.A. McNinja) always seems to work out his deals without anyone knowing, so why would a potential Morris trade be any different?
In any case, with Keef sitting out and seemingly being at peace with it, with the Rockets providing a potential suitor and with the Dec. 15 deadline coming up when recently signed free agents can be included in trades, it seems like only a matter of time before Markieff Morris’ tenure with the Phoenix Suns has reached its end.