Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris wants out of the desert, and the Boston Celtics could be one of the teams in hot pursuit of the veteran forward.
Morris, 26, signed a 4-year, $32 million contract extension — a total bargain for the talented forward’s services — last September. The contract matched the length of his twin brother Marcus’. The two took discounts to stay together in Phoenix, but then the Suns dealt Marcus to the Detroit Pistons this summer.
The Morris twins are known to be fiercely loyal, so it comes as no surprise that Markieff wants out, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“One thing for sure, I am not going to be there,” Markieff told the Inquirer’s Keith Pompey on Tuesday. “If you want to put that out there, you can put that out. I don’t give a (f–). I am not going to be there at all. That’s just what it is.”
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton listed the Celtics as one possible landing destination, suggesting a potential package of Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones and James Young — plus a potential draft pick to sweeten the deal.
It seems like a lot to move for Morris, a talented player who puts up good — not great — numbers (career-highs of 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2014-15) for the competitive Suns. Of course, part of that is due to all three of those Celtics being on rookie-scale contracts and the team needing to match the $8 million price tag Morris comes with in any potential move.
One thing to note: Pompey raised one potential helpful point to be that former Suns guard Isaiah Thomas was traded to the Celtics as well. Thomas, an active recruiter for Boston, could be one key selling point for Morris joining the Celtics — if he gets any say in a potential trade.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
