2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams
Washington Wizards
As someone who watches the Phoenix Suns on a nightly basis, I can assure Washington Wizards fans that despite Markieff Morris’ horrible reputation, this was a good deal for your team.
For one thing, the Wizards didn’t give up any important players in the deal. Though the inclusion of a top-9 protected pick — which could wind up being a lottery pick if Washington doesn’t build some momentum here soon — is regrettable, the 2016 NBA draft class isn’t particularly deep and the Wizards are trying to look as attractive to Kevin Durant as possible.
The question is, with KD hitting free agency this summer, does the acquisition of Keef actually help in that regard?
Is Markieff buddies with KD? Because...
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) February 18, 2016
However, Morris is a far more talented player than his season averages — 11.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 39.7 FG%, 28.9 3P% — would suggest. Keef averaged a career high 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year, and he was posting 20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in his five games after Hornacek was fired.
He also rejoins former Suns teammates Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley in a happier, playoff-hopeful situation.
There’s a very likely possibility that being freed from such an uncomfortable situation in Phoenix unleashes a revenge mode kind of season for Morris, similar to the way Marcus Morris is having a career year in Detroit.
I do want Suns fans to be prepared for Markieff Morris to play fantastic basketball for the Wizards the rest of the year. It's coming
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) February 18, 2016
There are a laundry list of reasons to be concerned about Keef’s attitude (just scroll back to the Suns slide for the complete view), but here’s one piece of reassurance: The Wizards aren’t the team that pissed him off by trading his brother away. In a new situation and playing alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal, Keef will have a chance to be part of a solution, rather than the problem.
More hoops habit: 2016 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Players To Avoid
Add in the fact that Morris is on a bargain contract for the next three years ($24 million) and the Wizards found an excellent solution at the 4-spot for the foreseeable future.