As the Phoenix Suns ship continues to sink, they’re mostly busy these days trying to maximize anything for Markieff Morris via trade, although right now, the only team interested in the forward, the Toronto Raptors, aren’t agreeing to the price the Suns are asking for.
So what are the Suns, who might end up with the worst record in the NBA if things keep going in this direction, asking in return for Morris, a talented but quarrelsome player, who one might describe him as leaving his heart on his sleeve, but others would simply refer to him as a distraction on a basketball team when he’s unhappy, and not worth the trouble?
The Suns seem to be hitting the rebuild mode they planned on doing two years ago before almost accidentally stumbling into the playoffs. They have five first round picks in the next three drafts and nine over the next six years, but the haul they’re asking for in regards to Morris (with P.J. Tucker obviously not drawing the same kind of asking price) is a first round pick and a talented young player.
And while the Raptors feel like this season can be very special for them with the right boost, focusing specifically on bringing in a better power forward, they’re not going to give up that much for Morris. A first round pick? Maybe that would be enough for someone averaging 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on reduced minutes, but there’s no young talent the Raptors have to give. Patrick Peterson is someone they thought about giving up for Morris or any other deal they’d get into, but the Suns won’t take Peterson in return.
Morris is owed $24 million over the next three seasons, which considering the changes in the NBA salary cap isn’t too bad considering what he can give to a team. The Suns aren’t in too much of a hurry to get rid of him, and are simply testing the market. If not now, then it’ll be in the offseason, although it’s been quite a while since they’ve been trying to trade him and haven’t been able to. The Raptors, on the other hand, are running out of time.