Should The Phoenix Suns Trade Markieff Morris?

Mar 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) against the Dallas Mavericks at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) against the Dallas Mavericks at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Markieff Morris
Jan 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at US Airways Center. Phoenix won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

The Verdict: Don’t Trade Him

Markieff Morris has a long way to go to earn back the trust and respect of Phoenix Suns fans. He’s tarnished his image both on and off the court, with issues like technicals and assault charges overshadowing the strides he’s made on the offensive end.

McDonough has said the team isn’t interested in dealing Markieff Morris. There’s no realistic target on the trade market worth giving him up for and though the player-front office relationship is a little dicey at the moment, Keef has the best team around him that he’s had so far. At the end of the day, this is the business of basketball.

Assuming he doesn’t do anything dramatic like request a trade, Keef has the opportunity to start winning back the very fan support he complained about just a few months ago. He’s got a season in which he averaged 15.3 points per game as a starter under his belt, he’s only 25 years old and, like it or not, championship teams are hardly ever entirely made up of universally likable guys.

The Suns aren’t competing for a championship next season, but that’s the ultimate goal. Bearing that in mind, dumping Keef somewhere simply because his brother is gone does not move Phoenix closer to that goal. In fact, it makes no sense in any sort of context given what Markieff Morris and his incredible contract bring to the table.

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