Lakers Trade Prospects: Markieff Morris Breakdown
By Eric Yee
Why It Makes Sense For Phoenix
When the Phoenix Suns went back on their word and shipped Marcus Morris to the Detroit Pistons, Markieff didn’t shy away from letting his feelings be known to the public about how he felt about the Suns.
However, despite tensions seeming to calm down in Arizona as of late, the report that detailed Brandon Bass’ likely departure from the Lakers before the deadline, also mentioned that the Phoenix Suns were still willing to part with Morris. That said, they supposedly aren’t willing to accept low ball offers just because teams know they want him moved.
"Sources close to the Suns say that they are not going to make a bad deal just to force Morris off the roster, but as the deadline gets closer there is an increasing sense around the league that Phoenix might blink on a deal just to remove the problem from their equation."
While Markieff was the more effective Morris twin while both were on the Suns, it is actually Marcus who’s having a the better year with the Pistons. Despite starting the season strong, after being hit hard by the injury bug, the Suns currently find themselves in a similar position as the Lakers. At 13-31, does winning games now really help?
The Suns could not only use bodies but also veteran guidance at nearly every position, which is great because the Lakers have nearly every position up for grabs. The Suns currently have seven players on their injury report, four of which are guards, which makes the Nick Young acquisition a no brainer. He will not only provide a healthy body but immediate offense whether it be off the bench or in the starting unit.
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After Eric Bledsoe‘s season ending injury, the Suns have struggled heavily to score the basketball, ranking 27th overall just two spots above the Lakers, which is a shame because to start the season the Bledsoe-Brandon Knight pairing was actually fun to watch. Regardless, Young could be a welcomed asset in Arizona.
More over, the main draw would be Brandon Bass who recently had his best game for the Lakers, showing the potential of what he could do if placed in the right situation. Tyson Chandler is just a shell of his former self, so having Bass to back him up or play alongside him would also be beneficial to the Suns.
Phoenix is currently a young, rebuilding team and could use the veteran guidance of Young but more so Brandon Bass, who has been more than professional this year. Further, Phoenix would benefit most from this trade from addition by subtraction, finally getting Morris out of their hair, enabling them to look towards the future.
Next: Why It Makes Sense For LA