Markieff Morris goes on the record, wants out of Phoenix

The long, exhausting saga involving Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris appears to be reaching an end, and perhaps not a moment too soon no matter whether you find yourself siding with Morris or the franchise.  After reports surfaced last Thursday suggesting that Morris could be a headache for the organization should they fail to move him prior to the start of the regular season, new reports Tuesday put Morris on the record saying that he has no intention of playing for the Suns this upcoming season.

“One thing for sure, I am not going to be there,” Morris told Philly.com Tuesday after a morning workout at Competitive Edge Sports in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

“If you want to put that out there, you can put that out…I am not to going to be there at all.”

After averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game last season on the heels of signing a four-year, $32 million deal last September, Morris figured to be a player that was going to be a part of the Suns’ quest to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10.

Those plans began to unravel rather quickly, however, when Morris and his twin brother Marcus were charged with aggravated assault in late April stemming from an incident in January in which the twins were accused of sending Erik Hood to the hospital with a broken nose following an altercation at a recreation center.

Approximately two months later, the Suns traded Marcus to the Detroit Pistons — along with Danny Granger — for a future second-round draft pick; a move made to essentially help clear cap space in Phoenix’s pursuit of then-free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.  Upon being shipped out of Phoenix, Marcus pulled no punches in voicing his displeasure with the deal, calling the trade a “slap in the face” and making it clear that he wanted to continue playing with his brother.

Since then, speculation has run rampant as to when — not if — the Suns will trade Markieff, allowing the other shoe to finally drop.  The Suns hold all the cards at the moment, as they have the option to suspend Morris without pay if they chose not to release or trade the disgruntled forward, who is due to report to Suns training camp at the end of September.

“I’ve got to show up. No question,” Morris said. “You can’t do that. I will be a professional. Don’t get me wrong. But it won’t get that far…I’m going to be out before then, should be.”

Added Marcus, “As far as I’m concerned, I never was a Phoenix Sun. It’s a new start for me. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to take care of business, expand my game and get the height I know I can get to.”