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Phoenix Suns: 4 Reasons Mirza Teletovic Will Be A Fan Favorite

By Gerald Bourguet

May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (33) advances the ball during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 104-90. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (33) advances the ball during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 104-90. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Feb 28, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward Markieff Morris (11) reacts after drawing a charging foul against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at US Airways Center. The Phoenix Suns won the game 116-104. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

4. He’s Markieff’s Backup

There are plenty of likable players on the Suns’ roster now, but we shouldn’t ignore the elephant in the room that Markieff Morris is well on his way to becoming one of the least likable players in the team’s 47-year history.

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Last season, Keef finished with the second most technicals in the NBA, he publicly bashed the home crowd support and he was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault. Over the summer, he held his silence about the Suns trading away his twin brother Marcus Morris for a few weeks…until unloading to his hometown paper that he wanted to be traded.

The Suns aren’t going to cave to those demands, especially since they have him locked in on a bargain four-year, $32 million contract. But whether Keef is on the roster for the entire 2015-16 season is almost irrelevant at this point; there’s no denying that Teletovic will automatically take a step up in fans’ eyes for giving his all off the bench as long as there’s this uncomfortable relationship between Keef and the Suns organization continues.

If Morris is traded and the Suns are unable to acquire a starting-caliber 4 in the deal, Teletovic would become the de facto starter at power forward. That would automatically boost his likability as well, so even though it’s unlikely that Morris is dealt any time soon, it’s undeniable that a large contingent of Suns fans will be pulling for him to succeed any time he checks in for Keef off the bench.

Next: No. 3

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