Phoenix Suns: The Markieff Morris Saga Gets Even Weirder

Trade Rumors Swirling

The most likely answer is that everyone is putting on a happy face until a trade can finally be brokered. Phoenix seemed like a top trade destination for Ryan Anderson, but the Pelicans have reportedly just been listening to offers and not biting on any just yet. That recent report could mean that trade talks between the Suns and Pelicans hit a snag.

Another potential Keef suitor is the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were reportedly interested in acquiring his services after a disappointing 13-14 start to the season and the fact that a deal hasn’t been reached yet would make sense for Houston since Corey Brewer is not eligible to be traded until Jan. 15.

Brewer is hardly the ransom Suns fans would want to see in a Morris swap, but his contract aligns far more favorably with Morris’ $8 million annual salary. Terrence Jones has been mentioned as the prime asset in a trade for Keef, but he alone wouldn’t get the job done since he only earns $2.5 million this season and the salaries would be too far apart.

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One possible theory: the Suns were interested in swapping Keef for Anderson, which explains why they were keeping him out of those games. He was going to be gone soon, so giving minutes to Leuer and Teletovic became the priority, while Keef and the organization agreed to say all the right things and avoid sabotaging a deal that would have given both parties the divorce they needed.

But then Pelicans got cold feet, realizing that despite their abysmal record, they’re still only a few games out of the Western Conference playoffs and that taking a chance on a player who’s developed a bad reputation over the last year would be too much of a risk.

At that point, the Suns turned to the Rockets to discuss a deal and perhaps even agreed to a trade under the table, but the two parties will have to wait until Jan. 15 when Brewer becomes trade-eligible in order to officially complete the transaction. Since that’s still a month away, giving Keef all these DNPs was going to kill his value and the Suns were forced to play him again.

Again, this is just a theory, but everyone’s identical stance on Markieff Morris’ professionalism feels like a buzzword meant to let suitors know he’s not going to try and sabotage a deal or his new potential team.

Next: What Happens Next?