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NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Teams That Should Trade For Blake Griffin

By Gerald Bourguet

December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Phoenix Suns

ESPN’s Marc Stein reports it’s probably only a matter of time before Markieff Morris is traded, though he notes that the Phoenix Suns are stubbornly waiting for better offers than the ones currently on the table. With the team losing 18 of its last 20 games, it’s clear this season has become all about developing the younger players, so why not blow it up to some degree in a blockbuster move?

Morris has killed his trade value in every way this season, averaging 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 38.4 percent shooting, getting benched for the likes of Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic, and doing little to convince teams he’s not a head case thanks to his now infamous towel-throwing incident.

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    • But you can be guaranteed he’d come to life for any team not located in Phoenix, and Keef has done remarkably well against Draymond Green over the last few seasons. He can only spread the floor to midrange territory, but three-point shooters like P.J. Tucker (36.1 percent) and Mirza Teletovic (40.9 percent) would certainly help in that regard.

    The NBA community has always wondered how Tucker’s 3-and-D skill set might impact a more talented team, and this trade would likely lead to all-time highs in his per-minute productivity and gritty hustle on both ends of the floor. Teletovic, meanwhile, could come in off the bench and simply knock down threes as the league leader in made triples among reserves.

    There’s no star replacement in a Morris-Tucker-Teletovic deal, but the Clippers would be bolstering their depth, defense and three-point shooting in one fell swoop. The Suns are also in a prime position to make a deal as one of the few team in the league that could offer productive players AND multiple future draft picks if need be. Only the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers can lay claim to having more extra draft picks than the Suns have.

    For Phoenix, all the waiting and misery from the past few seasons would be temporarily alleviated if general manager Ryan McDonough were able to get his hands on a star like Griffin. The Suns haven’t had a franchise player since Steve Nash, and the closest they’ve gotten since — Goran Dragic — ended badly.

    Related Story: NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Landing Spots For Markieff Morris

    With Eric Bledsoe returning next year, the Suns would have one elite player, one borderline elite player and a bunch of promising youngsters to groom like Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and Alex Len. The Suns would still need to figure out if Brandon Knight is worth keeping around for the long haul given his lack of chemistry with Bledsoe, but Griffin would finally bring a bonafide star presence back to the desert.

    Unfortunately, Morris may have hijacked his trade value with his poor on-court performance and his continued headlines off of it. Teletovic plays zero defense and Tucker, while being a useful player, probably won’t move the needle much for Doc Rivers. Unless the Clippers are actively trying to move their best player and the Suns swoop in with a Godfather offer, this isn’t happening.

    Next: No. 4

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