Phoenix Suns: Drawing Up Potential Markieff Morris Trades
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards don’t want Nene. The Phoenix Suns might not want Markieff Morris. Why not exchange unwanted players that would actually make both teams better in the process? Unfortunately, a straight up swap wouldn’t work, so to make the salaries fit, Phoenix would have to include either Jon Leuer or Archie Goodwin.
Leuer is probably expendable in this kind of deal, but Washington might not even be interested in his services. In that scenario, giving up Goodwin would sting, especially in a trade for a 32-year-old power forward who’s been good but never great throughout his NBA career.
From Washington’s perspective, they’d be getting a tremendous upgrade at the power forward position, adding the kind of stretch-4 they’ve been craving for some time now. Nene’s value was at an all-time low in the playoffs last year, and Keef is actually a better rebounder.
Goodwin would have a hard time earning minutes after Washington brought in a few new players to replace Paul Pierce on the wing, but he’s still young and pocketing a talent like him — along with Markieff Morris — for the marginal cost of Nene would be a steal for the Wizards.
From the Suns’ perspective, this would be an obvious L, starting with the fact that they’d be adding about $4 million in salary. Nene would bring more experience to the locker room, but he’s not a great rebounder or defender, he’s visibly lost a step in his game and he can’t really spread the floor past the midrange.
But Phoenix might wind up taking an L anyway if they have to trade their starting 4. They’d need someone of stature to replace him if the Suns want to quickly recover from Keef’s departure and make the playoffs. Nene would accomplish that task, though it’s highly unlikely the Suns would part ways with a young player with potential like Goodwin just to get rid of Keef.
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