Markeiff Morris has struggled this season for the Suns. Shocking, I know, after he spent all summer demanding a trade (of course, he changed his tune after a fine) he has come out and played poorly. He is averaging 12.1 points per game, but is shooting just 39 percent. In previous seasons, he was strong when he got the ball at the elbow or mid-post areas, but this season Morris has struggled with his shot from those areas, he’s been inconsistent (or consistently poor) and he has a PER of 9.8 on the season.
It got ugly Sunday when a healthy Morris got a DNP-CD from Jeff Hornacek, who started Jon Leuer in his place.
The Suns were not willing to consider trading Morris this summer, but if that benching signals a change in their attitude they will have at least one suitor, reports Marc Stein at ESPN.The Houston Rockets have trade interest in Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris, who made multiple trade demands this past offseason, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com the Rockets are in the market for roster upgrades in the wake of their disappointing 10-11 start and have Morris on their list of targets, amid a growing belief around the league that the Suns are indeed prepared to finally move Morris.
Detroit — where the Suns had sent Marcus Morris — reportedly has interest as well.
Houston needs help at the four; they have been starting Clint Capela, although they just got Donatas Motiejunas back and Terrence Jones is still there. One of them, likely Jones, would be moved in a deal for Morris. And Morris, in theory, could come in and give them help at either forward position, depending on what lineup combos Houston threw out there. That said, the Rockets reportedly have some chemistry issues, and they may want to question bringing in Morris, who has the reputation of being hard to deal with.
Morris is making $8 million this season and is under contract for three seasons after this one (this is the first year of a four-year, $32 million extension for Markieff, which he thought was below market value, but he took to play with his brother Marcus, who was traded this summer to Detroit in Phoenix’s efforts to clear out cap space for a potential LaMarcus Aldridge signing).
Don’t expect any trades before Dec. 15. That’s the first day any player signed this summer can be moved, and it puts a lot more players and contracts in play to make something happen.