Phoenix Suns: 5 Burning Questions For Media Day
1. Is The Situation With Markieff Morris Salvageable?
No surprises here, but whatever Markieff Morris says at Media Day will be the No. 1 takeaway. Everyone in Phoenix is probably sick of this storyline by now, especially when Marcus Morris rejoins the party to verbally bash his ex-team. But the unfortunate truth is that the Suns need Morris to make the playoffs this year and end their five-year postseason drought.
Live Feed
Sir Charles In Charge
Keef doesn’t want to be here, but the Suns hold the power in this situation. With Morris signed on for another four years and $32 million, the Suns have a talented offensive player on one of the best non-rookie contracts in the NBA. If he holds out or continues to act in a way that is detrimental to the team, the Suns can simply suspend him without pay until he comes around.
If that never happens, fine. He’ll have wasted away his NBA career, forfeiting $32 million in the process. The Suns will be left with a big hole to fill at power forward, but the truth is if they traded him now, they’d still be in that situation; with Keef’s trade value so low right now, nobody will be giving up a starting-caliber power forward for him in potential trade talks anyway.
The Suns are hopeful that once he’s back on the court and surrounded by his teammates again, he’ll tune out all the noise and just focus on playing basketball. Even if he still wants to be moved, it’d be in his own best interest to shut his mouth and come out with a vengeance for a few months in order to boost his trade value back up.
Markieff Morris has never been shy about speaking his mind, so Media Day is going to be one hell of a spectacle. It might be uncomfortable. It might be displeasing. It certainly won’t be non-confrontational. But whatever comes out of Markieff Morris’ mouth is going to be the biggest headline, and it’s going to offer Suns fans an immediate look at what the upcoming 2015-16 season might look like.
Next: Phoenix Suns: Grading The Offseason