Yahoo! Sports takes a look at Markieff Morris’ trade value
Feb 11, 2016, 9:26 AM | Updated: 11:45 am
(AP Photo/Matt York)
It’s been 217 days since the Phoenix Suns’ trade of Marcus Morris to the Detroit Pistons was completed.
That also means it’s been 217 days since the subject of a potential trade of Markieff Morris has been floating above the franchise’s head.
Markieff demanded a trade in the days following the Suns’ deal with the Pistons. He has bad-mouthed fans, thrown a towel at his (former) head coach and been suspended. Yet, as of Thursday morning, he’s still a member of the team as the league’s trade deadline approaches.
Morris made headlines again Wednesday night when he scuffled with teammate Archie Goodwin during Phoenix’s 112-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors. All parties downplayed the event.
“Big brothers shake little brothers up sometimes. It happens,” Morris said. “No it doesn’t look good but nothing I do looks good. It’s between us. We’re a family, always. That’s my little guy.”
Goodwin echoed the sentiment.
“We family. It happens. I love him like a brother, he loves me. That’s all there is to say about it,” he said.
After the game, a video showing Morris giving an obscene gesture to a fan circulated as well.
Bobby Marks of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports conducted questioning among NBA executives trying to gauge Morris’ trade value as the deadline nears.
Marks cites Morris’ pending felony aggravated assault charges as one big deterrent for potential trade partners.
If a plea or conviction occurs after a trade, the team trading for Markieff Morris could expect to lose him for multiple games because of an NBA suspension. The looming concern over possible jail time further complicates a potential trade, and teams would want a complete understanding of the risks involved with the legal case. No organization wants to give up assets and suddenly learn that Morris would have to serve jail time.
Morris and his twin brother are both facing charges stemming from an incident that occurred in January of last year.
Surprisingly, Marks points out that the towel-throwing incident hasn’t done as much to dissuade teams’ interest.
Executives accept that incidents do happen in the emotion of a game, and most agreed that particular episode had been magnified because of Morris’ past transgressions. However, if incidents like Wednesday’s altercation with teammate Archie Goodwin continue to occur, his trade value could be greatly diminished, if it isn’t already.
The piece points out that the teams contacted were more concerned with Morris’ attitude following the trade of his brother.