UPDATE: To further back up the points made in this article, the Suns used some of that extra cap space to agree to sign Mirza Teletovic — a useful stretch-4 — to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
Stop me if you’ve heard this opening line before: “The Phoenix Suns didn’t get LaMarcus Aldridge, but…”
If you’re getting tired of reading it, it’s safe to assume I’m getting tired of writing it. But in the aftermath of Aldridge’s devastating decision to choose the San Antonio Spurs over the Suns, every move that’s made for the rest of the summer will be examined under the lens of that microscope.
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One move that’s being incinerated under the intense heat of aforementioned magnifying glass is general manager Ryan McDonough’s decision to ship away Marcus Morris, Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons for nothing more than a future second round draft pick.
The move was clearly designed to clear cap space for Aldridge, who would have commanded a $20 million a year contract. The trade only cleared up about $8 million in cap space, but it opened the door for sign-and-trade possibilities that would’ve prevented an outright fleecing of the roster to get Aldridge, sign Tyson Chandler and re-sign Brandon Knight to his big extension.
Unfortunately, the deal is done and the Suns are sitting on the wrong end of Aldridge’s free agency decision, along with quite a few other teams. Phoenix came closer than the rest, but what little consolation that provides won’t bring back Mook, Granger or Bullock now.
But to think that the Suns “needed” them in any capacity — or that the deal was a mistake — is misguided thinking.
Sir Charles In Charge
Trust me, I was as excited as anyone for the Danny Granger revival in Phoenix that ultimately lasted as long as the time it will take to read to the end of this article. I watched Granger play for New Mexico in college and enjoyed his game from afar when he emerged as the best player on the Indiana Pacers.
But for all the veteran leadership he might have brought to the locker room, Granger also represented a logjam at the small forward position with P.J. Tucker, T.J. Warren and Marcus Morris already on board. Would he really have been able to contribute that much more than any of those three? Unless the Suns’ training staff really does have Lazarus Pits somewhere in US Airways Center, I sincerely doubt it.
Snagging Bullock from the Los Angeles Clippers was another great individual trade for McDonough being that Bullock’s a young 3-and-D prospect who hasn’t gotten his chance to shine yet. But what if the sad truth is that he’s just not that good and will never pan out in the NBA?
It’s too early to say for certain, but if Bullock couldn’t find a way to crack the rotation last season on a Suns team desperate for answers with a bunch of injured players, where else will he find his place in this league?
Is Reggie Bullock the new guy who the internet thinks is good but really is just an NBA journeyman?
— James Plowright (@JPlowright11) July 2, 2015
Marcus Morris was easily the biggest loss in the trade, especially since he was signed to a four-year, $20 million bargain deal that won’t kick in until this upcoming season. With the salary cap set to shoot through the roof, that’s a steal of a contract for a player who can spread the floor with a three-point shot and be a helpful bench contributor.
But Mook also came with his fair share of problems, not the least of which included screaming at his head coach in the middle of a game, joining his brother Markieff Morris in bashing Suns fans and facing felony aggravated assault charges. Trading Morris was a gambit that didn’t pay off for Aldridge, but will anyone in the Valley really miss him that much?
Well, I guess there’s one person who will: his twin brother, who immediately took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the move.
Lol this a foul game here man!
— Keef Morris (@Keefmorris) July 2, 2015
Here’s the thing about the uncomfortable situation between the front office and Keef, though: one way or another, it will resolve itself.
For one thing, beggars can’t be choosers. Keef is already on thin ice with this organization because of the comments about fan support and the felony aggravated assault charges. There are murmurs that Morris is already on the trade block after Mook was traded away, but it would take a substantial return to prompt McDonough to ship Keef off as well.
For one thing, Morris is on a highway-robbery-of-a-contract at $32 million over the next four years. For another, he’s only 25 years old and just had the best season of his career, despite fans’ understandable qualms with his technical fouls and his rebounding. He’s still too young to say he’s peaked or that he won’t improve from here with his first season in a starting role under his belt.
Markieff Morris just might be one of the best one-on-one power forwards in the league. He’s capable of beating defenders from the midrange with an array of step-backs, spin moves and face-ups. You don’t just trade that away because you need to dump him since things are awkward now.
If Morris needs to be traded, McDonough will find a way. But for the time being, if the biggest criticism of the trade with the Pistons is that it makes things uncomfortable between the front office with Keef, that’s not enough to condemn the deal itself.
Marcus Morris clears minutes for Warren, Bullock was awful, and Granger was a pipe dream who was gonna steal minutes https://t.co/vqKZLex4zH
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) July 4, 2015
For one thing, McDonough cleared the logjam at the small forward position. Most fans are eager to see Warren overtake Tucker in the starting rotation, but even if that doesn’t happen, Warren is automatically the first forward off the bench now.
For another thing, the Suns kept the more valuable twin while clearing out some valuable cap space. Phoenix will replace those deals with one- or two-year contracts that can easily be moved in the event that a star becomes available over the next few summers.
Every team will have max-level cap space soon, but every little bit helps and if McDonough’s surprisingly effective pitch for Aldridge was any indicator, the Suns will be able to get meetings with high profile free agents in the future as well.
If Keef can’t understand why his brother was traded and makes things unpleasant in the locker room, then McDonough will need to find a deal to move him. But until that day comes (and even if it does), the Suns are still well poised moving forward with a young core of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, T.J. Warren, Archie Goodwin, Alex Len, Tyson Chandler and Devin Booker.
The Suns still need a star to take the next step forward, but that’s where that extra cap space from this unfairly criticized trade with the Detroit Pistons may come in handy one day.
Next: Phoenix Suns: Life After LaMarcus Aldridge