The Morris Factor
One obvious caveat to this conversation is what happens with Markieff Morris. If the Suns trade him before the season and accept pennies on the dollar for their starting power forward (a bad decision by all accounts, but, admittedly, an available option nevertheless), they’ll have a couple different avenues to take from there.
The ideal scenario would be general manager Ryan McDonough acquiring a starting-caliber 4 in a trade to simply replace Keef, but if that isn’t an option, Mirza Teletovic becomes the most obvious candidate to move into the starting lineup. Another option would be inserting T.J. Warren alongside P.J. Tucker and playing either one of them as a small-ball 4.
But if Hornacek doesn’t feel like giving up size down low to replace Keef, the Twin Towers formation is another possibility for Phoenix’s starting frontcourt.
However, all this assumes Keef is dealt, which I don’t see happening before the start of the season. Perhaps after December it’ll be a possibility, when newly signed free agents become trade-eligible. But with Morris’ trade value so low right now, the Suns need Keef to go out, play great basketball for a few months and prove his worth to prospective buyers.
For the time being, Markieff Morris is the Phoenix Suns’ starting power forward for 2015-16. Since he’s not being moved any time soon, only actions detrimental to the team at training camp or practice would force Hornacek’s hand to look elsewhere for an alternative in the frontcourt. Bearing that in mind, don’t expect the Suns to be starting a Twin Towers lineup in the near future.
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