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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Markieff Morris

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) sits the bench in the final second of their 110-89 loss to the Utah Jazz at vivint.SmartHome Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) sits the bench in the final second of their 110-89 loss to the Utah Jazz at vivint.SmartHome Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (left) talks with Miami Heat forward Gerald Green prior to the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Miami Heat

With Gerald Green and Tyler Johnson coming off the bench, the Miami Heat have a decent amount of firepower in the second unit. But adding a proven isolation scorer like Markieff Morris would only make the bench stronger, perhaps vaulting the Heat into that “biggest challenger for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East” conversation.

When the Heat first acquired Josh McRoberts, they were hoping to get the Charlotte Hornets Josh McRoberts who averaged 8.5 points per game and shot 36.1 percent from three-point range while also playing superb wing defense. Instead, they’ve gotten a guy who has missed 82 of a possible 119 games in his time in Miami because of nagging injuries.

Related Story: NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For David Lee

Beno Udrih is a non-essential piece that would need to be included with McRoberts to make the contracts match, which is why Suns general manager Ryan McDonough would try to work a future draft pick of some sort into the deal. Otherwise, Udrih and a banged up McRoberts serve little purpose for a team that already has depth at both the point guard and power forward positions.

However, it’s worth noting that the contracts of both Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic come off the books this summer, and with both of those power forwards playing their way into nice new contracts from someone, having a little insurance would be nice since re-signing them might be bit trickier (or most costly) now.

McRoberts still has $5.8 million on his contract for 2016-17, with a $6 million player option the following season. That would provide the Suns time to A) get him healthy with their warlock training staff and B) find a more permanent alternative.

Next: No. 4